LeBron James silenced doubters and his own age with a season-high 40 points, propelling the Los Angeles Lakers to a 129-120 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night, snapping their four-game skid.
The 38-year-old basketball king was on fire, shooting 13-of-20 from the field, draining a perfect five 3-pointers, and converting all nine of his free throws. He wasn’t just a scorer, either, racking up seven rebounds, seven assists, and two blocks for good measure.
Oklahoma City threatened a comeback, slicing a 26-point Lakers lead to single digits in the fourth quarter. But James was unfazed, scoring 11 points in the final 4:29 to send the Thunder packing.
“To know I can still make game-winning plays, affect the game in multiple ways, and close out when our team needs it, that’s always a good feeling,” James said after the win.
Anthony Davis, who called this game a “must-win,” backed up James with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. Rui Hachimura added 21 points, and Austin Reaves chipped in 11 points and nine assists for the Lakers, who had stumbled since winning the In-Season Tournament.
The Lakers offense clicked all night, shooting 52.2% from the field and dishing out a season-high 37 assists with just nine turnovers.
“Everyone was making shots and moving the ball,” James said. “We kept it on target and avoided turnovers. That was the key.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 34 points, while Jalen Williams added 28 and Chet Holmgren chipped in 19 points and 10 rebounds. Despite their three-game winning streak and five wins in six games, the Thunder couldn’t match the Lakers’ fire.
Hachimura carried the Lakers offense in the first half, scoring 16 points to help them build a 71-59 lead at the break. The Lakers shot a scorching 60% from the field in the first two quarters.
The Thunder tried to fight back, but James wouldn’t be denied. His clutch 3-pointer over Gilgeous-Alexander with 3:26 remaining put the Lakers up by 13 and sealed the win.
“They came out like a team desperate for a win,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “We didn’t match their intensity in the first half, and that allowed them to get comfortable. It’s a good lesson for us.”
With James at the helm and the Lakers offense humming, Los Angeles finally arrested their losing streak and served notice to the rest of the league that they’re far from finished.
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