Basketball – LeBron James has been stratospheric in the NBA

Heroic and stratospheric, LeBron James scored 56 points to allow the Lakers to return to victory (124-116) at the expense of Golden State on Saturday in the NBA, while Miami, leader in the East, got the better of his dolphin Philadelphia.

Only Kobe Bryant did better at 37, scoring 60 pawns in 2016. It was his farewell and LA fans still remember it. The performance of “LBJ”, in this same jersey, is not a glorious outing, but it is also impressive, because it only demonstrates a little more the value of its level each evening over time.

This season, James is of a formidable address, because he is above 50% and against Golden State it has been seen again (19/31, including 6/11 at long distance, 10 rebounds as a bonus). And his points average has not been so high since the season … 2007-2008.

However, with Anthony Davis too often injured and Russell Westbrook in great difficulty, although in the blow on this match (20 pts), the “King” must be at its peak for his Lakers to exist this season, while ‘they seem doomed to go through the play-offs to compete in the play-offs.

While Stephen Curry’s Warriors (30 pts) were leading at the start of the fourth quarter, James caught fire, chaining three baskets behind the arc, to restore the advantage to his team (100-97), opening a crazy sequence where the two teams responded tit-au-tac. Finally, after Golden State returned to three lengths in the dying seconds, it was he who found Carmelo Anthony (14 pts) for the fatal banderilla.

“The energy of despair carried us,” commented the superstar. “They were leading and I didn’t want us to be too far behind. We needed this victory, it means a lot to our fans, who deserve it, because we haven’t been playing well lately.

Thanks to their leader, whose personal best in a game is 61 points, the Lakers thus put an end to a series of four defeats, but remain stuck in 9th place in the West, while the Warriors, after this third loss of in a row, see Memphis approaching very close to their second place.

Because the Grizllies made short work of Orlando (124-96) thanks to Ja Morant (25 pts). Deprived of Luka Doncic, hit in the toe, Dallas (5th) on the other hand had to erase a deficit of 19 points, to finally snatch a 4th success in a row at the expense of the Kings (114-113) of DeAaron Fox (44 pts, 6 pass).

Spencer Dinwiddie, recruited in the last hours of the transfer window, particularly distinguished himself (36 pts, 7 assists), Dorian Finney-Smith (17 pts) taking charge of securing victory with a basket behind the arc achieved at four seconds of the term.

In the East, the Heat proved that they remained the boss against the Sixers (99-82), managing to muzzle MVP candidate Joel Embiid. Philadelphia remained on five wins, including four in which James Harden made a strong impression on offense. But without “The Beard” (the bearded man), spared, did not show the same face against Miami’s tough defense.

The total of 82 points is the lowest achieved by Philly this season, Embiid contributing up to 22 (4/15 on shots, 15 rebounds), below his standards of leading scorer in the championship (29.6). Harden’s absence was also felt in the 76ers’ low passing percentage (13) and disastrous long-range percentage (17.1%).