LeBron James, Luka Doncic finally put on show at…
LOS ANGELES — Luka Doncic and LeBron James had been introduced together for nights like these. The two Los Angeles Lakers superstars topped 30 factors each in a recreation for the first time this season.
Doncic had 34 factors, hitting 17 of 20 free throws, and six rebounds and eight assists. James had 31 factors on 12-of-18 capturing to go with 9 rebounds and six assists.
The Lakers rallied for a 128-121 victory over the short-handed Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night time.
LeBron James and Luka Doncic, who mixed for 65 factors, have fun during the Lakers’ 128-121 win over the Grizzlies on Jan. 2, 2025 in Los Angeles. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
It was the third time general that Doncic and James both scored 30 or more factors in the same recreation, their forty second together. It occurred twice in March, a month after Doncic joined the Lakers in a blockbuster commerce from Dallas.
“Just playing in rhythm. Trying to find ways that we can be productive,” said James, the NBA’s oldest energetic participant who turned 41 on Tuesday. “Luka did a great job getting to the free throw line. Myself, just trying to sprinkle in a little bit here, a little bit there. Just trying to be consistent and super efficient with my play. We worked well off each other.”
Doncic’s 17 made free throws had been one off his profession high, while his 20 makes an attempt had been a season high. As a workforce, the Grizzlies had been 15 of 23 from the road.
“Just trying to get downhill a lot more than usual for me,” Doncic said. “But for him, he’s just playing his game, attacking whatever he sees, being efficient and helping us win the games.”
The Lakers improved to 11-0 in clutch-time wins this season. The recreation was tied twice in the fourth, when the groups traded one-point leads until the ultimate 5 1/2 minutes. James had 10 factors in the period and Doncic had six. They mixed for 5 assists and three rebounds.
LeBron James, who scored 31 factors, goes up for a layup during the Lakers’ win over the Grizzlies. NBAE via Getty Images
“He was phenomenal,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said about James. “There was just a few stretches there where they made runs and the response from him, it felt like nearly every time we needed a bucket, he just kind of willed it.”
Doncic hit James with a 70-foot outlet go at one level.
“One of the best quarterbacks and I’m a pretty good receiver when it comes to that,” James said. “It’s my job to not allow the defense to break that up or steal the ball. He put it on time and on target for me.”
Doncic and James acquired a lot of help from their teammates. Jake LaRavia had 21 factors and 9 rebounds and Marcus Smart had 13 factors, eight rebounds and seven assists. Jaxson Hayes added 12 factors off the bench.
“Them doing that, it actually takes the pressure and the load off LeBron and Luka,” Redick said.
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