WATCH: LeBron James recreates JR Smith moment after Darvin Ham's coaching staff refuses to use challenge
LeBron James completely lost it on Darvin Ham's coaching staff after they refused to challenge an out-of-bounds play in the third quarter of Game 4. James recreated the infamous JR Smith reaction video but in a more infuriated way against the Lakers staff.
The incident occurred after James got a successful steal with nine minutes left and the Lakers up 15. The ball touched Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's hand last before going out of bounds, but the refs gave the ball to Denver. As James pleaded to the coaches to review it, the staff stayed put, which saw the 39-year-old in shambles and throwing tantrums.
The Lakers played their best second half of this series in the elimination Game 4. They took a double-digit lead in the first half for the fourth straight time. But unlike the last three games, LA held on to it for most of the contest.
The fine margins have killed the Lakers in the first three games, especially with the lack of execution from the coaches and role players' ends. The Lakers may have surrendered Game 2 to a Jamal Murray buzzer-beating game-winner after Darvin Ham refused to challenge two calls down the stretch despite having two timeouts, which he never used.
LeBron James was involved in both plays. The Lakers could have held onto the advantage that would have given them a road win to tie the series 1-1. That may have run through James' mind after another review miss by the coaches despite his vehement cry.
LeBron James gets 14 points in the 4th as Lakers avoid 2nd consecutive series sweep and save season
LeBron James and the Lakers were expected to go down with another series sweep loss against Denver, but that won't be the case. After three consecutive shambolic outings in the second halves, the Lakers held on following a 13-point halftime lead. James was the key architect of that win, with 30 points, 14th in the fourth quarter. James also had three steals and a block.
LA got outscored by two points in the final 24 minutes, but that didn't impact the Lakers as they bagged the 119-108 win.