How LeBron James became one of the NBA's best shooters -- and what it means for the surging Lakers - ESPN

WITH HIS DESPERATE, 10th-place Lakers down 18 points to the LA Clippers in the fourth quarter, LeBron James went to work in a way he almost never has.

Off a pass from D'Angelo Russell in transition, James pump-faked Norman Powell out of position before launching a triple from his sweet spot on the left wing, cutting his team's deficit to 15. A little over a minute later, James caught another pass from Russell before firing from nearly the exact same spot and getting an identical result, leaving the Lakers down 12 in this late February, Battle-for-LA tilt.

A mere 45 seconds later, James brought the ball up himself and veered this time to the right side of the floor, uncorking a heat-check trey from the right wing just over P.J. Tucker's outstretched hand, bringing the Lakers within nine, 100-91.

As that third attempt soared through the air and gravity brought James back down to the floor, he bounced repeatedly on one leg before twirling around theatrically to head back on defense. He was untouchable. And he wasn't done.

Less than two minutes later, with the Clippers up eight, James caught a pass and took one step inside the enormous half-court logo. He stood nearly 30 feet from the basket, but the distance made no difference. The shot was money, and now the Lakers were behind by just five with 6:53 to play.

James hit a fifth consecutive triple with 4:36 remaining, a 26-footer from the top of the key over Clippers center Daniel Theis, to cut the Laker deficit to two, 106-104.

Five treys in just over six minutes. A long-range heater the likes of which we've rarely, if ever, seen from The King.

James outscored the Clippers by himself (19 to 16) and either scored or assisted on 11 of the Lakers' 13 baskets in that final