Lebron’s Closer Redeems Lakers For Magic Johnson After Issuing Stern Demand

The Los Angeles Lakers have found their much-needed win after three consecutive losses. With the playoffs approaching, it’s no secret that every single win counts. No wonder LeBron James didn’t give up even in the last minutes of the recent matchup against the Indiana Pacers, sinking in an iconic buzzer-beater. Following the hard-fought victory, former Lakers star Magic Johnson could not help but take to X to open up on the Lakers’ win.

Even before the game began, Magic Johnson made it clear that it’s the defense that he wants to see from the Lakers. However, in the game’s final moments, it was pure offense that won the Lakers the game. But Magic doesn’t seem to mind as he realises the importance of this win.

“What a thrilling finish with LeBron James’ putback! It sealed a much-needed victory for the Lakers against the Pacers,” Johnson wrote in a more recent post on X. If you missed the action, the Lakers gave up 119 points—far from the defensive clinic Magic had hoped for. But when it counted most, they locked in. With the Pacers needing just one more basket to snatch the win, Luka Doncic’s floater rolled off the rim, setting the stage for LeBron’s heroics. The King was ready, timing his jump to perfection and tapping the ball in to secure a nail-biting 120-119 victory. 

However, beyond the win, this game held extra significance for LeBron. By the fourth quarter, he had just three points, an unusually low tally for a player who has scored in double digits in 1,282 consecutive games. The streak was in real danger. But in classic LeBron fashion, he turned it up when it mattered, finishing with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists—extending his streak yet again.

Now, the Lakers turn their attention to their next challenge: a rematch with the red-hot Chicago Bulls. Less than a week ago, the Bulls handed them a double-digit loss, and fresh off this tight battle with the Pacers, nothing will come easy. And even though Magic is pleased with this win, the big question remains—did the Lakers take his pregame message to heart?

Did the Lakers work on Magic Johnson’s advice ahead of the game

Before the Lakers even stepped on the hardwood against the Pacers, Buck had one clear demand for his former team. And when Magic speaks, you listen—especially when he emphasizes it this much.

“All I want to see from the Lakers tonight is DEFENSE DEFENSE DEFENSE…” Johnson wrote on X, repeating the word a staggering 20 times. If that doesn’t tell you how badly he wanted to see some grit on that end of the floor, nothing will. But did the Lakers deliver?

Well, considering they scraped by with a one-point win, the answer isn’t exactly what Magic or Lakers fans would’ve wanted. Blocking just three shots the entire game? That hardly screams defensive dominance.

Sure, LA started off strong on offense, quickly building a six-point lead. But then they allowed the Pacers to rattle off eight straight points, just like that. That’s the kind of defensive lapse that keeps fans on edge, and not in a good way.

Yes, there were flashes of effort—Dorian Finney-Smith registered a block, and Jarred Vanderbilt got a key shot contest—but consistency was the problem. Letting Indiana go on a 9-0 run? That’s not exactly the tenacity Magic Johnson was hoping for. Now, with a matchup against the Bulls up next, the Lakers have a chance to fix things. If they want to keep winning, sticking to Magic’s demand wouldn’t be a bad place to start.