HOUSTON — LeBron James turned back the clock Wednesday night, throwing down six dunks and scoring 30 points on 13-for-14 shooting to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 124-116 road win over the Houston Rockets. The result pushed Los Angeles to a season-high seven-game winning streak and strengthened the club’s hold on the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed at 44-25.
At 41 years and 78 days old, James became the oldest player in NBA history to record at least 30 points while shooting 90 percent or better, eclipsing Arvydas Sabonis’ mark set at age 36 in 2001. He is also the first Laker to hit that threshold since Shaquille O’Neal accomplished the feat in March 2003.
James’ half-dozen dunks — three of them alley-oops — were his most in a game since March 9, 2017. One highlight came when Marcus Smart’s off-target lob appeared headed for the seats before James leaped to grab it and finished with authority, drawing gasps from the Toyota Center crowd.
“Look at me right now,” James said afterward, sitting with ice packs on his elbow and knees while soaking his feet in a bucket. “Right now, I feel like s—. But in the game, I felt pretty good.”
Luka Doncic supplied 40 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists, and celebrated a late lob to James that put Los Angeles up six with 1:22 remaining. Austin Reaves added 14 points and eight assists.
Houston got 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting from 37-year-old Kevin Durant, while rookie Tari Eason was credited with the lone block on James’ only miss of the night early in the fourth quarter.
ESPN Research noted that James entered the contest second in the league in fast-break points and now has 77 dunks in 48 appearances this season. “I think he could play until he’s 45,” Durant said. “It’s not a surprise anymore.”
Head coach J.J. Redick, also 41 and retired as a player in 2021, joked about feeling “like a loser” watching James’ explosiveness. “The preparation he puts into his body over and over again — that is the ultimate sign of competitive stamina,” Redick said.
James has attempted 15 or fewer shots in eight straight games — the longest such stretch of his career — averaging 20.8 points on 61.5 percent shooting over that span while the Lakers have gone 7-1. Redick credited the veteran’s patience within an offense now featuring Doncic and Reaves as primary options.
“Winning’s fun,” Doncic said after exchanging words with a courtside fan during his post-lob celebration. “We win and we have a good time.”
Source: ESPN
