The Los Angeles Lakers took a hard-fought 122-115 victory over the New York Knicks on Saturday in a spectacular return by LeBron James, who signed a triple-double after five games out due to injury.
At 37 years old, ‘King James’ had 29 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in 40 minutes of play, in a game in which he was doubtful at the last minute due to discomfort in his left knee.
“It feels great to be out there with my teammates, being a leader and giving everything I have. It was a great victory for us”, declared the leader of the Lakers, who remain in a disappointing ninth place in the Western Conference.
The Los Angeles team, which fell by 15 points at halftime (71-56), came back from the hand of young Malik Monk, who came into fire scoring 25 of his 29 points after the break.
Center Anthony Davis also shone with 28 points and 17 rebounds while the team’s third sword, Russell Westbrook, had his worst game of the season with 5 points on a dismal 1/10 field goal stat.
For the Knicks, guard RJ Barrett finished with 36 points, the best mark of his career, in 50 minutes on the court.
Power forward Julius Randle, who played his first four courses in the NBA for the Lakers, also stood out with 32 points, 16 rebounds and 7 assists for a Knicks that fall to twelfth place in the East, out of playoff positions playoffs (‘play-in’).
The New York team came to have a 21-point lead but fell apart with a hair-raising third quarter in which they barely scored 13 points amid Monk’s offensive festival, who outscored them with 18 in that quarter.
With a tie at 111, LeBron James was able to avoid overtime but missed a 3-pointer almost at the buzzer.
The Lakers, in any case, already had the necessary momentum in overtime and got on track for victory without major shocks.
Ja Morant’s show
Led by the brand new All-Star Ja Morant, the Memphis Grizzlies yesterday gave another display of play and spectacle to win 135-115 over the Orlando Magic.
The young Morant, one of the great sensations of the NBA season, reached 33 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 blocks.
The 22-year-old point guard thus surpassed thirty points for the eighth time in his last nine games.
Morant was not only effective (14/21 from the field) but also led the Grizzlies’ show at the Amway Center with several stratospheric dunks and fantasy assists on the counterattack.
Morant’s explosion this season led him to be chosen to start as a starter in his first All-Star (Star Game), on February 20 in Cleveland.
The Grizzlies, who already dominated the game by 20 points at halftime (76-56), consolidate themselves in third place in the Western Conference with 37 wins and 18 losses, only behind the Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors.
For the Magic, who fell behind by 31 points, point guard Cole Anthony was the top scorer with 22 points.
The Miami Heat, for their part, continue to hunt for the leadership of the East with a resounding 104-86 victory against the Charlotte Hornets.
Jimmy Butler, with 27 points, and Bam Adebayo, with 20 points and 12 rebounds, dismantled a Hornets that could not display their fast-paced style of play.
The Heat tie the Chicago Bulls for the lead in the East as the Hornets drop to ninth.
In the last game of the day, the Milwaukee Bucks achieved a comfortable 137-108 win against the Portland Trail Blazers with 29 points and 9 rebounds from Giannis Antetokounmpo, who only needed 25 minutes on the court. (D)
Source: Eluniverso
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
