But the ball found Wall after James’s thunderous slam, and he freed himself for a midrange jumper with a sharply executed crossover and behind-the-back combination. When his shot found the net, pushing the Clippers’ lead back to double digits, Wall pushed the palms of his hands toward the floor for emphasis. Everything was under control, and Lakers fans could return to their seats.
The five-time all-star point guard finished with 15 points, four rebounds and three assists in 25 minutes with the second unit, marking the first time he wasn’t a part of his team’s starting lineup since January 2013. As the Lakers rallied in the fourth quarter, Clippers Coach Tyronn Lue turned to Wall, instead of starter Reggie Jackson, to close the game. Wall responded by drilling a key jumper to give the Clippers a six-point lead with just over three minutes remaining.