The King is back! Spectators at the Xfinity Mobile Arena attended a “vintage” NBA evening on Sunday, in the words of Luka Doncic, with a rediscovered and decisive LeBron James: 29 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists.
Three days after the end in Toronto of his incredible series of games with 10 points or more (1,297 games in almost 19 years), the star of the Lakers, who will celebrate his 41st birthday at the end of December, offered success to his team with 10 consecutive points in the final moments. Notably a long shot on one leg followed by a mid-distance shot (at 27 seconds), celebrated by miming a crown on his head. A classic after his most decisive actions, reminding us who “the King” is.
“It was the end of the road trip, I just felt good since this morning. You have to know how to feel the game, Luka (Doncic) came back from a return trip to Europe, I had good legs, I knew I had to do more offensively,” commented to the broadcaster the one who also allowed himself a spectacular dunk in transition, another signature action.
Although his teammate Luka Doncic had just returned from Slovenia where he witnessed the birth of his second child, the magician still managed to complete a triple-double (31 points, 15 rebounds, 11 assists).
Coach JJ Redick hailed LeBron James as his team’s “connector.” “It is important to remember from time to time what we are capable of, especially for him after his start to the season disrupted by injuries, where he mainly tried to make up for lost time,” said the technician, deprived of his player and friend for 16 matches out of 23 already.
31 points, 15 rebounds, 11 assists for the other Lakers magician Luka Doncic
The No. 23 gold and purple, who had missed the start of his 23rd season in the prestigious North American basketball championship due to sciatica, was not the only veteran in legs on Sunday, Joel Embiid (31 years old, MVP in 2023) showing some fragments of his past glory, before several injuries, equalizing at 1 minute 29 from the buzzer, releasing an authoritarian counter on James, and finishing with 16 points and 7 rebounds, at relay by Tyrese Maxey (28 points).
Second in the West, the Lakers (17-6) have won their eight “clutch” games this season, defined by the NBA as a meeting with a gap of 5 points or less in the last 5 minutes.
They will host the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday for their NBA Cup quarterfinal. A duel for which a return of Victor Wembanyama, who has been sidelined since mid-November due to a calf injury, is hoped for…
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