The Los Angeles Lakers extended their win streak to seven games on Sunday night when they defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 133-121.
While Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves headlined the Lakers’ 12-point victory with 34 points and 33 points, respectively, there’s another contributor worth mentioning for a hilarious reason.
Late in the third quarter of the Lakers’ most recent Western Conference matchup, Maxi Kleber missed a layup so badly that LeBron James couldn’t hold in his laughter on the bench (he sat out due to left knee injury management).
Kleber, who did a good job of getting a step on Saddiq Bey thanks to his convincing shot fake on the perimeter, decided to attempt to lay the ball in with his left hand at the last second when an emphatic slam was a viable option.
As a result, the ball hit the front of the rim instead of traveling down the net. Although Kleber received a chance to redeem himself at the free-throw line, it’s reasonable to assume James’ laughter didn’t help ease the embarrassment.
Every NBA player has made their fair share of blunders on the hardwood, though, which should help the former Dallas Mavericks center swiftly bounce back from his early-season Shaqtin’ a Fool moment.
Kleber and the Lakers will return to action on Monday night to face the Devin Booker-led Phoenix Suns at Crypto.com Arena.
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