LOS ANGELES — LeBron James scored his 39,000th level on methods to 17 issues, 9 assists and 7 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers finished an unbeaten run thru group play within the NBA In-Season Tournament with a 131-99 victory over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday evening.
Anthony Davis had 26 issues and 16 rebounds for the Lakers, who’re prone to host a quarterfinal sport early subsequent month to start the knockout levels of the league’s first in-season match. Los Angeles beat Phoenix, Memphis, Portland and Utah by way of a blended 74 issues, capped by way of this blowout of the Jazz for the Lakers’ 6th victory in seven video games total.
Already the highest scorer in NBA historical past after passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387 issues) remaining season, the 38-year-old James turned into the primary participant in league historical past to best 39,000 issues early within the first quarter.
“I got congratulated by my teammates and coaches, (but) I haven’t had an opportunity to really wrap my head around what that means,” James stated. “There’s been so many great players that came across this league since the beginning of time, and so many great scorers. To be able to accomplish something that’s the first of anything, I think that’s always pretty cool. It’s a wild moment, that’s for sure.”
The milestone used to be every other prevent in James’ steamrolling of the sector’s earlier requirements for basketball longevity: He started the evening averaging 26.4 issues in keeping with sport, by way of some distance probably the most manufacturing from any participant in NBA historical past who made it to a twenty first season.
D’Angelo Russell added 20 issues and 8 assists for the Lakers, who went up by way of 30 within the 3rd quarter and were given their two superstars out of the sport for excellent prior to the fourth started. James performed most effective 24 mins, whilst Davis ruled his 29 mins, going 11 of 14 or even including 4 assists.
“Being able to sleep in our beds and not having to travel, that’s always good,” Davis stated of the Lakers’ match place. “We’re one step closer to winning the, uh, Cup? Is it the tournament Cup? NBA Cup? Something like that? So, one step closer.”
Austin Reaves scored 19 issues and Christian Wood had a season-high 16 whilst Los Angeles stepped forward to 7-1 at house this season and Utah fell to 1-6 at the highway.
John Collins scored 15 issues and Omer Yurtseven had a season-high 18 for the undersized Jazz, who dropped to 2-2 in match play with their 7th loss in 9 video games total. Utah shot dismally, hitting most effective 33% of its photographs within the first part.
“They did a good job of just closing the floor on us and taking all the space that we had and forcing us to take tough shots,” stated former Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson, who scored seven issues on 3-of-9 taking pictures.
Starting wing Cam Reddish performed most effective 5 mins prior to leaving with groin soreness, including every other damage to the Lakers’ checklist and leaving them with simply 9 to be had gamers. Jarred Vanderbilt (left heel) and first-round draft pick out Jalen Hood-Schifino (proper kneecap) have now not performed this season. Gabe Vincent will leave out a minimum of 16 video games prior to he returns from a left knee damage, possibly subsequent month.
The Lakers nonetheless ruled the primary part, taking a 23-point lead in the second one quarter in the back of 17 issues and 10 rebounds from Davis. Utah went simply 4 for 23 on 3-pointers whilst falling in the back of 62-41 at halftime.
“I think our lack of physicality, in particular on offense, led us to have very sloppy offensive possessions,” Utah trainer Will Hardy stated. “And when you couple that with not making really any shots … playing against that team in transition over and over and over again is difficult. It was a lot of things wrapped into one that led to a bad game.”
UP NEXT
Jazz: At Portland on Wednesday.
Lakers: Host Dallas on Wednesday.
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