LeBron's windmill slam
- What happened: LeBron James threw a reverse windmill dunk that pushed the Lakers to a 2-0 series lead. - The key specific: The slam came late in Game 2 and sparked the decisive run that finished the Rockets. - Context: The play and a Game 2 highlights package circulated widely online, underscoring the Lakers' early playoff momentum. ( )
LeBron James closed the Lakers’ 101-94 Game 2 win over Houston with a reverse windmill dunk that helped send Los Angeles to a 2-0 first-round series lead. (apnews.com) James finished Tuesday night with 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists at Crypto.com Arena, where the Lakers won again despite missing Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. The Rockets got Kevin Durant back, but still left Los Angeles down two games in the series. (apnews.com) The dunk came in the second half and quickly became the game’s defining clip, with NBA and fan highlight packages pushing the play across social media and video platforms within hours. NBA.com posted James’ 28-point Game 2 highlight reel, and a separate YouTube clip focused on the reverse windmill from multiple angles. (nba.com, youtube.com) The result gave Los Angeles early control of a series that now shifts to Houston for Game 3 on Friday, April 24. ESPN’s recap listed the Lakers ahead 2-0 after taking both home games by seven points or fewer. (espn.com, nba.com) The play also landed in a familiar LeBron James storyline: he is in his 23rd National Basketball Association season and still finishing playoff games above the rim at age 41. Coverage after Game 2 centered on that contrast as much as the score itself. (youtube.com, sportingnews.com) Houston’s problem is now immediate. The Rockets return home needing to win Game 3 to avoid a 3-0 hole, while the Lakers head to Texas with the series’ biggest moment so far belonging to James’ late-airborne finish. (nytimes.com, nba.com)
