D’Angelo Russell scored 18 points and crossed the 10,000 career point mark in the triumph as the Lakers improved to 42-33, two games ahead of Golden State in the last two West play-in places.
“I’m extremely grateful to have packed the cape on this road trip,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said of James’ superheroic display.
“We needed those nine three-pointers. (We) kind of let the rope down on what we were doing…we turned the ball over way too much, but having said that, you just have to overcome those things.
“You don’t have time to complain and moan… You just have to keep fighting, keep scratching and try to figure out how to fix the situation that you’re in. And we were able to do that thanks to to enormous efforts.” shot by him. “
– Jokic a triple double –
Nikola Jokic recorded his 23rd triple double of the season, sparking the defending champion Denver Nuggets to a 130-101 home victory against Cleveland.
The 29-year-old Serbian center, a two-time NBA MVP, scored 26 points, grabbed 18 rebounds and dished out 16 assists for his 128th career NBA triple-double.
“It shows why he’s going to be a three-time MVP,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “It shows that he understands that it’s not just about Nikola. That’s what I love about him, how selfless he is.
“Tonight (it was) him showing up and saying, ‘I’m going to do what MVPs do. I’m going to lead us to victory… that speaks to his maturity, his leadership, his responsibility, its appropriation – – everything you would apply to very great players.”
The Nuggets, who won 14 straight games when Jokic had a triple-double, made a season-high 21 3-pointers and clinched a playoff spot.
“It feels good. We still have a lot to do,” the Nuggets guard said. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who scored 22 points. “Tonight we came out and really showed who we are, just attacking defensively, rebounding, making shots.
“I thought we played amazing basketball.”
Caldwell-Pope made 7 of 10 shots, 6 of 9 from 3-point range, while Reggie Jackson scored 19 points on 5 of 5 3-pointers and Michael Porter Jr. added 19 points.
The Nuggets hit 50 of 87 from the floor (57.5%) and 21 of 33 (63.6%) from 3-point range while exceeding the Riders 51-28.
The Nuggets improved to 52-23, percentage points behind Minnesota And Oklahoma City in a three-team fight for the lead in the Western Conference.
Paul Georges scored 41 points, Kawhi Leonard added 23 and Ivica Zubac scored 24 points and 12 rebounds, sparking the Los Angeles Clippers over host Charlotte 130-118.
PhiladelphiaIt is Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 32 points to lead the 76ers on the host Toronto 135-120, extending the Raptors‘ loser at 13 games.
Terry Rozier scored 27 points and Bam Adebayo added 22 to lead Miami in a 119-107 victory at Washington.
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