LOS ANGELES, March 6 (US): Despite placing third in NBA history in scoring and quickly closing in on Karl Malone in second place, LeBron James has somehow not been seen as the purest scorer.
On Saturday night, James showed he’s still more than capable of accumulating points in a variety of ways, the AP reports.
James scored 56 points, the highest level during the season, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors 124-116 to lose four consecutive games. This was his third highest point total in a regular season game and the thirteenth time he had scored at least 50 points.
“I felt really good in my game tonight, in every part of the floor, and I was able to play twice to help us win,” said James, who had a career best 61 with Miami against Charlotte in 2014.
While James downplayed his 19-of-31 shot, including 6 of 11 from a 3-point range with three consecutive points to lift the Lakers 100-97 in the fourth quarter, friends and foes were more than willing to praise his performance.
“It was amazing tonight,” said Lakers forward Carmelo Anthony, who scored 14 points. “The way it came in, in the rhythm of the game and the flow of the game, he made us that comeback and him being a huge reason to come back and do that run he did. He put us on his back tonight.”
“Obviously he’s like a bunch of cliffs, and then when he hits his 3-point shot like he did in the second half, it makes it very difficult to try and protect him,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “He was brilliant tonight. LeBron was amazing.”
Anthony completed a three-point play to give the Lakers a 114-112 lead with 3:29 to play, and Malik Monk hit 3 to give the Lakers a five-point lead after Austin Reeves stole Curry’s pass. James then threw a resounding alley of Monk, who stole the inside fairway after a Los Angeles turn.
Stephen Curry cut the score to 119-116 with 1:06 left, but Reeves grabbed the offensive rebound and hit Anthony 3 for a corner, allowing the Lakers to see it.
Curry had 30 for Golden State, and Jordan Bull added 23. The Warriors lost four in a row to go down to third in the NBA, half a game behind Memphis and 8 1/2 games behind Phoenix.
“There are more matches coming, so we have to do it ourselves. We have to dig out of the mud, and no one is going to help us,” Kerr said.
Golden State overtook Los Angeles with 42 points in the second quarter to lead 67-62 in the first half. Poole and Jonathan Kuminga each had eight points, Curry added seven, and the Warriors made 69.6% of their shots from the field (16 of 23) and 75% of their 3-point range (6 of 8). But they let the Lakers close the game 11-2, and Kerr lamented not being able to sustain the break.
“That was a pattern during this bad spell of ours,” Kerr said. “We don’t get into teams when you’re down. We make mistakes and let teams hang out, and when you do that in this league you’re dead.”
Lots in the tank
James, who has offset Malone’s most minutes in NBA history including the playoffs, scored 30 points in the second half. This was his 24th straight game with at least 25 points to extend the longest streak of James’ illustrious career.
“When it goes like this, there’s no one on his team who can do anything about it,” said Lakers guard Russell Westbrook, who scored 20 points. . It was really big, especially tonight in matches like this where we needed to win.”
work to do
Klay Thompson worked up his second game in a row after returning from a non-COVID-19 illness, scoring seven points in a 3-of-13 shooting in 31 minutes.
“Clay is pressing,” Kerr said. “I feel that the disease may have affected his preparation and timing, so he has struggled in the last two games. He will get it back.”
Do not approach
Kerr said Curry, Thompson and Andrew Wiggins will be among the many Golden State players who will not travel to play in Denver on Monday.
Hint
Cominga finished with 18 points. … Lakers J. Avery Bradley is back after missing five games with a right knee injury. He didn’t score in 16 minutes… Lakers J Tallinn Horton Tucker scored two points in 18 minutes after not playing against the Clippers on Thursday due to a sprained left ankle. … Super Bowl-winning Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford watched the game from the court benches with his wife, while old Lakers coach Phil Jackson took her off the wing.
next one
Warriors: In Denver Monday night.
Lakers: In San Antonio on Monday night.