LeBron James shone brightly again, scoring 35 points, along with 14 assists and 12 rebounds, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a thrilling 128-123 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. This remarkable performance marks his third consecutive triple-double, making him the oldest player in NBA history to achieve such a feat.
The game held at the Staples Center saw Anthony Davis play a crucial role, contributing 21 points, with 11 of those coming in the pivotal fourth quarter. After picking up his fifth foul late in the third, Davis returned to the game with under seven minutes left and executed key shots, including a significant three-pointer that gave the Lakers the lead for good.
LeBron’s shooting was impressive, with him hitting 13 of 22 from the field and managing to sink four out of seven three-point attempts. On the other side, Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 29 points, but it wasn’t enough to maintain their winning streak, which was snapped at three games.
The Lakers overcame a 96-91 deficit heading into the final quarter, igniting a 10-2 run to take control of the game. The lead oscillated several times until Davis’ crucial three-pointer. In addition, other Lakers’ contributors included rookies Dalton Knecht and Rui Hachimura, who both added 19 points.
Noteworthy moments from the game included Marcus Smart’s return for Memphis after a six-game absence due to an ankle injury, during which he scored 14 points. Meanwhile, as an added highlight, Davis reached the impressive milestone of 18,000 career points during the first quarter, placing him among the elite 80 players in NBA history to achieve this alongside at least 7,000 rebounds and 1,500 blocks.
The Lakers also made a season-high of 20 three-pointers, with Knecht making all five of his attempts from beyond the arc.
Both teams will face off in the upcoming NBA Cup games on Friday, with the Grizzlies set to confront the Golden State Warriors and the Lakers heading to San Antonio.
In summary, LeBron’s exceptional performance and the Lakers’ strong showing at home emphasize their growing resilience and capability, marking a promising start to the season. The team is now 6-0 at home, showcasing their potential as strong contenders in the league this year. Fans can look forward to seeing how these performances translate in the upcoming games.