After a nearly made and-1, LeBron James leapt toward the front row of the Los Angeles crowd with unadulterated joy on his face.
The attendees were on their feet, and the most boisterous they’ve been all year after a spirited comeback saw the Lakers en route to what would have been arguably their best win of the season. For a brief moment, there was promise in the air. The Lakers could beat any team on any night, and were proving they may be closer to contention than we assumed.
Unfortunately, that glimmer dissipated. The rug was swiftly pulled out from underneath the team and the fanbase with every made Jayson Tatum jumper.