🏀 Clutch Comeback: Chicago Monarchs Shock Lakers in Final Minutes, Win 114–111
By Talia Henderson | May 13, 2025
Basketball fans were treated to a classic on Tuesday night as the Chicago Monarchs pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 114–111 in a thriller at United Center. Trailing by 12 with just five minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Monarchs rallied behind star guard Marcus Reid, who scored 11 of his 36 points in the final stretch.
1. Reid the Leader
Reid, in his fourth year out of Duke, showed the poise and killer instinct of a veteran. With the Lakers seemingly in control, he hit back-to-back threes and forced a turnover that led to a fast-break dunk, bringing the crowd to its feet. “I wasn’t going to let us lose this one,” Reid said postgame.
2. Lakers Let It Slip
The Lakers had dominated much of the second and third quarters, thanks to a balanced attack from Anthony Davis and Jalen Hood-Schifino, but they went cold late. L.A. missed six of their last eight shots and committed three turnovers in the final three minutes.
3. Coach Kincaid’s Adjustments
Chicago head coach Andre Kincaid made key defensive adjustments in the fourth, switching to a zone that stifled the Lakers’ perimeter shooting. The move paid off, with the Monarchs holding the Lakers to just 13 points in the final quarter.
4. Defensive Heroics
It wasn’t just offense that won the game—Monarchs center Dionte Freeman had 4 blocks and 2 critical rebounds in the final minutes, including a game-sealing swat of a potential game-tying three-pointer with 2.3 seconds left.
5. Playoff Implications
The win is a massive boost for the Monarchs, who are currently battling for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. With just four games left in the regular season, every win counts. For the Lakers, the loss drops them to 4th in the West, just a half-game ahead of the Denver Nuggets.
6. Crowd Energy
United Center was electric. After Reid’s game-winning three with 28 seconds left, fans erupted, waving rally towels and chanting “MVP!” for the young guard. The team has now won six of their last seven home games.
7. LeBron’s Quiet Night
LeBron James sat out the game for rest, watching courtside in street clothes. While Davis carried the load, LeBron’s absence was felt in the closing moments when L.A. lacked leadership on the floor.
8. Monarchs Bench Shines
The Monarchs’ bench was a quiet X-factor. Rookie guard TJ Roberts hit two key threes in the third quarter, and forward Kendall Voss brought energy with 7 rebounds and a charge taken during the fourth-quarter run.
9. What’s Next?
The Monarchs face the Miami Heat on Thursday in what’s shaping up to be a potential playoff preview. Meanwhile, the Lakers head to San Francisco for a showdown with the Golden State Warriors—a game that could shuffle Western seeding once again.
10. Quote of the Night
Marcus Reid, asked about his mindset in the final five minutes, simply said:
“That’s when legends are made. And I want to be one.”
Now let’s pair that energy with a dramatic game photo!
Generating it now…
Here’s your custom NBA game image, created with DALL·E, OpenAI’s legacy image generation model. It captures the excitement of a clutch three-pointer and the crowd’s explosive reaction—just like the moment Marcus Reid led the Monarchs to victory.
Let me know if you’d like more shots from this fictional game: maybe a dunk, a coach’s reaction, or post-game celebration!