NBA – The second round pick of the 2017 NBA Draft and rookie star point guard of the Los Angeles Lakers the 20 year old Lonzo Ball finally meets his childhood idol LeBron James and the Cavaliers in their first ever NBA match of the 2017 – 2018 NBA Season at Quickens Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
The young Ball admitted that he idolized LeBron James since childhood and considering him as the greatest player of all time in his own opinion.
Before the game, the Lakers just came from a loss in their last game is currently sitting at 11th place in the West Standing with 10 wins and 16 loss, Lonzo and his team will try to bounce back to the winning column if they are lucky enough to get a win from one of the hottest team in the league the defending Eastern Conference Champion Cleveland Cavaliers?
The Cavaliers are also on a mission of trying to extend their new winning streak to improve or solidify their solo 2nd place in the East Standing with 20 wins and 8 losses and itching closer to the best record in the East behind the Boston Celtics East best record of 24 wins and 6 loss.
In the game, the visiting team is, the more aggressive team in the early quarter, establishing an early lead of 7 points after dominating the paint area compare to the home team where the usual slow start is seen again. The Lakers manage to end the 1st quarter by leading by only 2 points 26 – 24. Lonzo Ball leads the Lakers in assists with 5 dimes while James leads the Cavs in scoring with 8 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assist.
In the early minute of the 2nd quarter the Cavaliers manage to tie the game at 26 - all after a two made free throws by Dwyane Wade, but the Lakers made an 8 – 0 run to post their biggest lead by 9 points with 9:29 to go, The Cavaliers fights back after making their own run hitting seven 3’s in the quarter to regain the lead 63 – 60 to end the 1st half. LeBron James leads all scorers at the half with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assist in another potential triple double? While Lonzo Ball 7 points, 3 rebounds and 6 assist.
In the 3rd quarter, The Cavaliers made a strong start controlling the entire quarter by leading for most of the quarter and with under 3:37 to go the Cavs posted the biggest lead of the game by 11 pts. But the young Lakers are very stubborn to put away in the game as they cut the Cavaliers lead into single digit to end the 3rd quarter. 94 – 86.
In the 4th quarter, the Cavaliers posted another double digit lead while LeBron James is resting on the bench, Kyle Korver takes over in the first 3 minutes of the final quarter until LeBron James returns back in the game to stop the Lakers run. Since James return the Cavaliers manage to up their lead again by 11 pts. But again the Lakers don’t want to go away by cutting the lead just by 5 points.
Eventually the Cavs manage to pull a win to extend their winning streak to 3 – game winning streak while the Lakes has now 2 – game losing skid. LeBron James finished the game with another triple double 25 pts., 12 rebounds and 12 assist while Lonzo Ball finished the game with 13 pts., 8 rebounds and 11 assist.
