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Los Angeles (AFP) – LeBron James never ceases to amaze: at 37, he scored 50 points in the Lakers’ victory over Washington on Friday, in an NBA evening that saw Spurs coach Gregg Popovich become the coach counting the more regular season wins.
Not even a week after scoring 56 points on Saturday in a home win over the Warriors, LeBron James did it again on Friday against the Wizards, becoming the first Laker since Kobe Bryant in 2007 to chain two home games to 50 or more points.
A more than welcome performance for the Lakers who have won only three of their last ten games and are still stagnating after this 122-109 victory in 9th place in the Western Conference, qualifying for the play-offs leading to the play-offs (29 v 37 d.).
“We missed a lot of little things, but we kept fighting, defending, and I was able to start a series of points at one point,” commented James, who notably scored 12 points in a row for his team in the third quarter.
With 50 points at 18/25 on shots, including 6/9 three-pointers, with seven rebounds and six assists, James still narrowly missed a record… Two assists he missed to become the first player in NBA history with 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 assists.
In San Antonio, on the other hand, Gregg Popovich did not miss his appointment with history, earning thanks to the success of his team 104-102 against Utah the 1,336th victory of his career, which allows him to overtake Don Nelson and become the most successful coach in the regular season.
winning machine
“This record does not belong to me, it belongs to everyone. Basketball is a team sport. You push your players to practice it together”, reacted in a press conference Popovich, who notably trained David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker or Manu Ginobili.
Popovich took the reins of San Antonio in 1996 to make it a winning machine, putting on five rings (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014), playing 22 play-offs in a row and being named coach of the year.
But this season, the Spurs are in the fight for a play-off jump seat in order to try to hang the play-offs: 11th in the West with 26 wins and 41 losses, they still have to get back on the Pelicans, beaten Friday evening by the Hornets 142-120 at home, to get there.
In this same Western Conference, the leader Phoenix fell Friday night at home against Toronto, winner 117-112 thanks in particular to 42 points from Gary Trent Jr and 25 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds from Pascal Siakam.
Despite this setback, the Suns still remain well ahead in the West, with 53 wins and 14 losses, ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies (46 v. 22 d.), victorious over New York 118-114 with still 37 points from their young star point guard Ja Morant.
Still in the West, the Mavericks, 5th, resumed their march forward by winning 113-110 in Houston, with Luka Doncic on 30 points and 14 rebounds. Among the other meetings of the evening, at the other At the end of the country, in the Eastern Conference, leader Miami won 117-105 at home against Cleveland, and the Celtics won a 5th consecutive victory by dominating Detroit 114-103.
© 2022 AFP
