LOS ANGELES — LeBron JamesHe continues to set new standards for what a star can do at this late stage in his career.
James, 37, scored 50 for the second consecutive game in his three previous games, helping the Lakers win a crucial 122-109 victory over the Thunder. Washington WizardsFriday
Six days earlier, James had scored 56 against them. Golden State WarriorsL.A. won this game, as well. However, the problem is that the Lakers are now 2-0 since the All Star break, when James scores 50+ points, but they are 0-6 in all of their remaining games, and still No. 9 in the Western Conference at 39-37.
James was awarded the rare MVP! MVP!” Crypto.com Arena sold out crowd chants “MVP!” Given the number of boos that have been heard throughout the building, he said he was grateful for the reception.
“Listen, Laker faithful know when bad basketball has been played and they also know when good basketball has been played. James explained that they are entitled to any kind of response. “They’ve seen many great teams and so many amazing individuals. … As a franchisee, I feel that I am just trying to give them the chance to have memorable nights.
“Try and give them something positive to look forward to, something to cheer about, something they can feel good about every night. I know it hasn’t been as spectacular as they would have liked, but they will take the little wins when they come.”
L.A. looked like it was heading for another loss. Down nine early in the quarter, L.A. was down to nine at the end of the third quarter. James then became hot. In less than two minutes, James scored 12 consecutive points for the Lakers, giving them complete control and causing a frenzy among the crowd.
It was a mix of different ways he did it. He started with an 18-foot fadeaway and then followed that up with an and-one layup and then a pullup 3 from 31. A floating bank shot was also taken by him, which he double-clutched and then flipped off the glass perfectly. Finally, he attempted a fastbreak with a dunk as he pulled the rim off its screws.
Frank Vogel, Lakers coach said, “The thing I find most remarkable is that no one in the league has ever seen a player this advanced in his career do what he does.” This is what needs to be acknowledged. It’s amazing to see the level he plays at.
James ended the game with a record 18-for-25 shooting from the field (72%), which included 6-of-9 3-pointers and 8-of-8 free throws.
He did it in a match against a Washington team with 7-foot-3 players. Kristaps PorzingisAssume the role of the middleman for the opening tip.
Vogel suggested that perhaps after all the years, he playing center was still the best way for Vogel to utilize him. Vogel said that he has been playing the center position for years because that’s what he does best. [Anthony Davis] out. To do whatever is necessary to win the game. LJ gives an unbelievable, amazing, and incredible performance.
It was James’ 14th 50-point game, tied Rick BarryHis teams are now the sixth most successful in this category, with their 12 previous games won when he scored 50 or more. Vogel’s point that James did this at 37, in his 19th season is further supported by the fact that James became the first player over 30 to score 50 goals in consecutive home games.
His scoring average has risen from 29.3 to 29.7 points per game to surpass Philadelphia’s. He now scores 20 or more in thirty consecutive games. Joel EmbiidFor the first place in the race to the league scoring title
James answered a question about his offensive strategy. He said, “Just trying to always stay present.” When gameday arrives, I am there five hours before the game to prepare — for myself, for my team, and for everything that I can do to make this night a success. That’s it.
James’s night dominated the main storyline going into Friday’s game — the offseason trading the Lakers made the Wizards to acquire Russell Westbrook in exchange for Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-PopeOther pieces.
Westbrook scored five points, going 2-for-11 from the floor with nine assists and one turnover. Vogel pulled Westbrook with 8 minutes 37 seconds left and kept him on his bench for the remainder of the game. Vogel stops Westbrook too late and L.A. now stands at 3-1.
Vogel accompanied a closing line-up of James. Malik Monk (21 points), Talen Horton-Tucker (15 points), Austin Reaves(12 points) Stanley JohnsonThat keyed in a 29-20 run between the time Westbrook was subbed to and the final buzzer.
Washington was led by Kuzma with 23 points. Caldwell-Pope added four points. He went 1-for-6 from below.
Vogel stated that it was all about getting those guys in there to win. “It was nothing more than that.”
Horton-Tucker took the assist from James on the 50th point of a 3-pointer with 1 minute 41 remaining. He let out a celebratory, good-natured scream in Kuzma’s direction in order to enjoy the moment.
“This is the second year he has scored 50 this season and I was like, ‘Damn. I looked up, and I thought, “Damn, he has 50!” Horton-Tucker said. “When he had 47, he knew he was going for 50, so I went to attempt to get him the 3. Just seeing it is motivational, as I always state.”
James scored 19 points in quarter three and 33 in the second. He said that James’s hot shooting reminded of “NBA Jam” in 1990s videogame. In this game, players would “on fire” after hitting three consecutive shots, with their subsequent shots coming from almost any spot on the court.
James stated that he was able to hit one hot streak. “I just tried my best to stay in that zone for as long as I could and I hit a few.”