Mar 31, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dunks the ball in front of Brooklyn Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith (28) and forward Trendon Watford (9) during the second half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports.
LeBron James delivered another epic performance on Sunday, scoring 40 points and matching a career-high with nine 3-pointers on 10 attempts as the Los Angeles Lakers rolled to a 116-104 National Basketball Association (NBA) victory at Brooklyn.
James, a four-time NBA Most Valuable Player and the NBA’s oldest active player at 39, made 13-of-17 shots from the floor overall and added seven rebounds and five assists in an effort that had Brooklyn fans giving him a standing ovation.
“I was feeling pretty good today, obviously, shooting the ball from the perimeter,” James said. “I just try to continually put my game where I have no weaknesses out on the floor, especially offensively. Tonight I had it going from the three-point line.”James achieved his 77th NBA career 40-point game to match Oscar Robertson for seventh on an all-time list topped by Wilt Chamberlain’s 271.
“I love this game. I try to put everything into the game and with it, it gives back to me,” James said.“Anytime I’m linked with the greats—and obviously Big O was a big inspiration for me growing up, reading about his history—it’s pretty cool.”
Doncic waxes hot
Anthony Davis added 24 points and 14 rebounds while Japan’s Rui Hachimura had 20 points and 10 rebounds as the Lakers seized a 17-0 lead and never looked back.
D’Angelo Russell scored 18 points and cracked the 10,000 career point barrier in the triumph as the Lakers improved to 42-33, just ahead of Golden State in the last two Western Conference play-in spots.
“Just extremely thankful that he packed the cape on this road trip,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said of the super-heroic display by James.
“We needed all nine of those threes. [We] kind of dropped the rope in terms of what we were doing … turned the ball over way too much, but that said, you have to just overcome these things … And we were able to do that by some huge shot-making by him.”James wasn’t the only superstar with nine 3-pointers on Sunday.
Luka Doncic scored 47 points on 18-of-30 shooting, 9-of-16 from 3-point range, to lead Dallas over host Houston 125-107, snapping the Rockets’ 11-game win streak and stretching the Mavericks’ win streak to seven games. —AFP
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