The Lakers' undefeated streak continues.

NBA games often carry an air of mysticism, as seen with the Lakers this season.

Up to now, the Lakers have a 23-11 record and sit third in the West. Their net point difference only became positive after today’s victory over the Pelicans because every one of their 11 losses was a heavy defeat, all by double digits. They struggle to win but lose convincingly—that’s the Lakers this season.

Yet, in every game that reached crunch time, the Lakers remained undefeated at 13-0. During regular play, they are an erratic offensive team with poor defense, prone to collapsing within minutes. However, in critical moments, their offense and defense both become extraordinarily intense.

Their overall defensive efficiency ranks only 23rd in the league, but in clutch moments, their defense is clearly the best by a wide margin. In the last five minutes, every player seems supercharged, while offensively, the ball is handled by the master floor generals LeBron James and Luka Dončić.

In the previous game against the Grizzlies, Dončić hit two crucial threes to seal the win. Today’s game was almost identical, with Dončić again knocking down two consecutive threes to end the match—except these shots were even more spectacular. One was a pressured corner catch-and-shoot, and the other a deep, drifting three-pointer just before the 24-second shot clock expired, set up by a LeBron screen.

Today, Dončić made 3 of 10 from three-point range. Ignoring those two extremely difficult threes, he was 1 of 8 on easier attempts—he only scores when it truly counts. Overall, he shot 11 of 22 with 30 points, 10 assists, and 5 turnovers, which by his standards is just barely acceptable. Without LeBron, the Lakers probably wouldn’t have reached the clutch moments today.

Facing the Pelicans on a six-game losing streak, the Lakers played very erratically through the first three quarters, leaking many open shots on defense and committing more ridiculous turnovers than their opponents. Early in the third quarter, LeBron sparked a comeback with four straight assists to take the lead, but Murphy scored 20 points in that quarter alone, handing out big gifts. After three quarters, the Lakers trailed the Pelicans by 7.

In the final quarter, during LeBron’s solo leadership, he hit two threes and delivered an assist in an 8-0 run that flipped the score. This momentum shift marked the turning point of the game. The Lakers didn’t let the Pelicans pull away, and the two teams battled through to the clutch moments, where the Lakers’ mystical streak was confirmed once again.

In crunch time, the Lakers entrust the ball to Dončić and LeBron, who run pick-and-rolls together. When opponents double-team, these two quickly break the defense to create advantageous situations, converting at a high rate. This is the power of having two superstars—you can fully rely on them offensively. Actually, the Lakers have three players capable of handling the ball in clutch moments.

Another reason for the Lakers’ improved clutch defense is including Vander Blue in the rotation during critical moments. His defensive energy has been his livelihood. With LeBron and Dončić providing offensive insurance, there’s no worry that these strong defenders will hamper scoring.

LeBron shot 10 of 19 today, including 3 of 5 from three, scoring 30 points along with 8 rebounds and 8 assists. He was perfect from the free-throw line, making all 7 attempts. Just looking at the stats doesn’t fully capture how well LeBron played in this game.

In the first quarter, he blocked Zion one-on-one—03’s top pick shutting down 19’s top pick. Then the 41-year-old LeBron soared to catch Dončić’s alley-oop for a dunk, an incredible leap almost at rim height. In the second half, LeBron had a steal and a windmill dunk on the fast break, again emphasizing that this man is already 41 years old.

Before LeBron turned 41, the scoring record for players over 41 was held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with 25 points. Since turning 41, LeBron has scored at least 25 points in every game, averaging 29 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists per game.

LeBron is playing basketball beyond what fans could imagine. Before him, no one at this age could perform so efficiently and impressively. Fans never judge LeBron by his age of 40+ but continue to expect peak-level play, and he consistently delivers performances comparable to his prime.

Because he is LeBron, people assume such performances at 41 are natural. Yet, every game he plays after turning 41 is history in the making. Past, present, and future, it’s unlikely anyone will play at this level at 41 again.

After the game, he said: “I don’t know how many more chances I’ll have to play in front of fans, whether away or at home. So every time I see fans appreciating my style and recognizing my effort, I feel humble and grateful. When I step on the court, I give my all to repay those who support me.”

In some games, he might no longer be among the league’s elite; this year, he might even be dropped from the All-Star starting lineup. But whenever he takes the floor, he pours his heart into the game, fueling his passion for basketball until the very end.