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dave mcmenamin
multiple authors
Los Angeles– luka doncic Scored 51 points on Thursday, his highest-scoring game lakersAnd L.A. rolled Chicago Bulls 142-130 inches Lebron James‘Returning from a three-match absence.
“It feels special,” said Doncic, who received a standing ovation at the end of the fourth quarter, with James urging the crowd to cheer louder. “Obviously, it feels pretty special to have a 50-point game here.”
According to ESPN Research, James scored 18 points on 7-for-13 shooting with seven rebounds and seven assists, and all five Lakers starters scored in double figures as L.A.’s first unit scored 137 points, the most by a starting lineup in a regulation game since the 1970–71 season. Austin Reeves (30 marks), deandre ayton (23 marks) and Rui Hachimura (15 marks) also put.
Lakers coach JJ Redick said it was an intentional team-first approach and an example of James’ sacrifice, which helped L.A. snap a three-game winning streak while the 41-year-old was sidelined with foot, elbow and hip injuries.
“LeBron and I, we talked, we had a really good conversation the last couple days,” Redick said. “He wants to do everything possible to help his team win, and he understands the importance of making sure that Luca and AR can perform at their best. And you know, it’s incredible with him.
“It says a lot about how much he cares about this team and his teammates and how much he wants to win.”
Did James consider playing this way a sacrifice?
“I mean, if it benefits others, it benefits the team. The team is most important,” he said. “Everybody succeeds when we win. So yes, it’s a sacrifice. I know what I’m still capable of doing as an individual, but I’ve been able to embrace what’s important for this team. … And that’s the only thing that matters. And winning is the only thing that matters.”
According to ESPN Research, LA is 8-3 this season while James is not among the team’s top two players in field goal attempts.
It was the Lakers’ seventh win in the last eight games, as they move up to No. 3 in the Western Conference standings with 16 games remaining in the regular season.
As strong as James was against Chicago, that surge has been largely due to Doncic and Reeves reaching the second level.
“AR and Luka,” James said, “offensively, have been magical and dynamic.”
Doncic, who barely missed a triple-double with 10 rebounds and nine assists, said the magic he put on the Bulls was thanks to the 21-year-old forward from Chicago. Matas Buzzelis.
“Somebody started talking to me, which woke me up,” Doncic said of Buzelis. “I’m not going to say what he said, but if I said it, I would definitely get a technique.”
Meanwhile, Reeves scored more than 25 points for the third consecutive game, his longest such streak since late November, before he suffered a left calf strain that kept him sidelined for more than a month from late December to early February. Reeves also reached 5,000 points for his career on Thursday, becoming the 46th undrafted player in league history to reach that mark.
“I obviously have delusional confidence in myself when it comes to basketball,” Reeves said. “But when the game is over and I have to go home and think about it, I don’t really think of myself in the same category as these other guys. But I just enjoy playing basketball, playing the right way and getting better.”
And it appears the Lakers are improving as a group at the right time.
“Every play matters and the way you approach the game matters,” James said. “I mean, it’s mid-March. The postseason is in a month, so it’s bound to happen 1773398821”
Doncic said: “It’s definitely the right time [to play better]. But, obviously, we have to continue to do that. It will be of no use if we rest now [anything]. So we have to keep doing the same thing.”
