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LeBron James loses defender with 360, stuffs slam

By Alex Butler
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James scored a team-high 24 points in a loss to the Orlando Magic on Sunday at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Photo by Rhona Wise/EPA-EFE
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James scored a team-high 24 points in a loss to the Orlando Magic on Sunday at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Photo by Rhona Wise/EPA-EFE

Nov. 26 (UPI) -- LeBron James provided a spin cycle and dunk highlight in the Los Angeles Lakers' 108-104 loss to the Orlando Magic.

His 360 spin was followed by a huge slam dunk in the second quarter of the loss on Sunday at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The Lakers led the Magic 32-28 with 8:19 to go before halftime during the sequence.

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James ran around a pick at the top of the 3-point line during the play. He jetted into the right elbow area before facing up with the Magic's Jonathan Isaac.

The 6-foot-10 forward was lured in with a James shoulder move, before the four-time NBA MVP spun away to his left. James cleared a path to the rim with the move.

He used the space to elevate over the paint while pulling the ball back in his right hand. He finished off the play with a powerful one-handed jam, giving Los Angeles a six-point advantage.

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James led the Lakers with 24 points. He also had seven assists and four rebounds, but turned the ball over six times. Nikola Vucevic scored a game-high 31 points and had 15 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks for the Magic. Isaac scored six points for Orlando.

"I think defensively we kinda broke down," James told reporters. "The energy level was a little lower than our expectations and they took advantage of that."

The Lakers face the Denver Nuggets at 9 p.m. on Tuesday at Pepsi Center in Denver.

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