What a performance by LeBron James! With a personal record in the Lakers jersey, the King blasted his team to a 124-116 win over the Warriors, ending the Lakers’ negative run. LeBron dominated the spectacular duel with 56 points.
Los Angeles Lakers (28-35) – Golden State Warriors (43-21) 124:116 (BOXSCORE)
In his four-year career with the Lakers, LeBron has never scored more points in a game. Overall, it was the third most of his NBA career (career high: 61), and he became only the fourth player in association history to break the 50-point mark at age 37 or older (the others: Jamal Crawford, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant).
LeBron wowed the home fans in LA with a performance that was as strong as a bear across the board. He sank 19 of his 31 attempts from the field, 6/11 three-pointers and 12/13 free throws, in addition to catching 10 rebounds and dishing out 3 assists. However, the Lakers also needed every one of his counters. At times James kept his team in the game single-handedly, but with a personal 9-0 run in the final period he also turned the game around and put the Lakers on the road to victory.
In general, Purple and Gold presented themselves significantly improved compared to the four bankruptcies in a row in the past week, more energetic, more accurate (almost 50 percent from the field and 18/41 threesomes) and with significantly more commitment. Russell Westbrook did a good job with 20 points (9/17 FG) and 4 assists, as did Carmelo Anthony (14, 5/8 FG) or Malik Monk (12, 4/9 three-pointers).
At the other end, Stephen Curry (30, 13/22 FG), Jordan Poole (23, 4/8 threes) and Jonathan Kuminga (18, 7/10 FG) held back. The strong bench had given Golden State an advantage for a long time, but in the end the Warriors were no longer able to counter LeBron. A few gaps revealed themselves defensively, Klay Thompson caught a used evening (7, 3/13 FG).
Lakers start much better – Warriors fight back
Coach Frank Vogel relied on a small-ball lineup with LeBron on the five at the start of the game, and that paid off. Without a real center in the zone, LeBron and Westbrook started with good attacks on the Warriors basket. In the early minutes, the Lakers showed high intensity on both sides for the first time in a long time.
With that, LA seemed to take the guests by surprise. LeBron and Co. quickly took a double-digit lead, and the Lakers scored 16 of the first 22 points in the zone. Only towards the end of the period did Poole’s scoring bring the Dubs back within striking distance (25:32) after a 14-point deficit against the second unit of the Lakers.
Poole was now completely on fire, his first four threes all ended up in the basket and he shot the Warriors in front. The teammates apparently got infected, Golden State sunk 9/14 triples in the first half. Los Angeles couldn’t keep up, now the guests pulled away with +14. An 11-2 run at the end of the period made the weak second quarter (42:30 GSW) seem tolerable from a Lakers perspective. With 67:62 for Golden State it went into the dressing room.
The Lakers didn’t have enough target water at the beginning of the second half (1/9 FG), LeBron even missed a layup. The guests from San Francisco took advantage of this mercilessly to regain a double-digit lead. LeBron now almost single-handedly kept his colors within striking distance, then Westbrook also delivered some good plays and Melo reduced the lead to 89:94 with a fadeaway buzzerbeater before the fourth quarter.
LeBron runs completely hot – and breaks his own Lakers record
There LeBron seamlessly continued his strong performance. First a seamless pullup three, then he pulled an offensive foul, followed by another triple to equalize. He had already broken his season record, but of course that didn’t stop him from a heat check threesome for a personal 9:0 run and the lead.
Then it was extremely entertaining back and forth with wild threesomes and spectacular layups on both sides, now Curry also got involved. But an and-one from Melo was followed by Monk with a triple after a nice pass from Westbrook, who brought LA +5 three minutes from the end. Of course James put the exclamation mark – appropriately with a banging Alley-Oop!
However, the Lakers kept it exciting with far too many unnecessary turnovers, Curry shortened again (116:119 with one minute to go). But in the next possession, LA first secured an offensive rebound, then LeBron served his buddy Melo in the right corner for the three. That was too much for the dubs, Curry failed from downtown, LeBron made everything clear from the line. What a King’s game!
