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LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on March 31, 2024 in New York. | Mike Stobe/Getty Images/AFP
New York, USA—LeBron James delivered another epic performance on Sunday, scoring 40 points and tying a career high with nine 3-pointers on 10 attempts as the Los Angeles Lakers won 116-104 in the NBA in 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 earning Brooklyn fans a standing ovation.
“I felt 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 on the court, especially offensively. Tonight I did it from the 3-point line.
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James recorded his 77th career NBA 40-point game, tying 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 that it gives me back,” James said.
“Any time I’m connected to the greats – and obviously Big O was a big inspiration to me growing up, reading his story – it’s pretty cool.”
Anthony Davis added 24 points and 14 rebounds while Japan’s Rui Hachimura had 20 points and 10 rebounds to help the Lakers take a 17-0 lead and never look back.
D’Angelo Russell scored 18 points and crossed the 10,000 career point mark in the triumph as the Lakers improved to 42-33, just ahead of Golden State in the final two Western Conference play-off spots.
“I’m just extremely grateful to have packed the cape on this road trip,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said of LeBron’s superheroic display.
“We needed those nine threes. (We) kind of let the rope down on what we were doing…turned the ball over way too much, but having said that, you just have to overcome those things…And we were able to do that with some huge shots from 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 past host Houston 125-107, ending the Rockets’ 11-game winning streak and extending the Mavericks’ winning streak . to seven games.
Golden State kept pace with the Lakers by winning 117-113 in San Antonio. Stephen Curry scored 33 points to lead the Warriors while rookie Victor Wembanyama led the hosts with 32 points.
Jokic scores triple-double in win over Cavs
Nikola Jokic recorded his 23rd triple double of the season, sparking defending champion Denver’s 130-101 home victory over Cleveland.
The 29-year-old Serbian center, a two-time NBA MVP, scored 26 points, grabbed 18 rebounds and added 16 assists for his 128th NBA triple-double.
“That explains why he’s going to be a three-time MVP,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “(It was) him showing up and saying, ‘I’m going to do what MVPs do. I will lead us to victory.
The Nuggets made a season-high 21 3-pointers and clinched a playoff spot.
“We came out and really showed who we are, tackling defensively, rebounding, making shots. I thought we played amazing basketball,” said Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who scored 22 points.
Denver hit 50 of 87 from the floor overall (57.5%) and 21 of 33 (63.6%) from 3-point range while outscoring the Cavaliers 51-28.
The Nuggets improved to 52-23, a half-game behind leader Oklahoma City in a three-team fight for the West lead.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored the last of his 19 points on a game-winning basket with 2.1 seconds remaining to give Oklahoma City a 113-112 victory in New York.
Jalen Williams led the Thunder with 33 points while Jalen Brunson, who missed a shot at the final buzzer, led New York with 30.
Minnesota lost a first-place game with a 109-101 home loss to Chicago. DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points for the Bulls, who ended the Timberwolves’ four-game winning streak.
Paul George scored 41 points to lead the Los Angeles Clippers over host Charlotte 130-118.
Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 32 points to lead Philadelphia past host Toronto 135-120, extending the Raptors’ losing streak to 13 games.
Terry Rozier scored 27 points to lead Miami’s 119-107 victory at Washington.
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