The Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up the first half of the season with a 124-104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena, highlighted by a historic performance from LeBron James.
Playing without injured guard Luka Doncic and fellow absentee Cooper Flagg, Dallas fell behind early while James set the tone. The 39-year-old forward either scored or assisted on the Lakers’ first 23 points and finished with 28 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists in 35 minutes. The triple-double is his first of the season and makes him the oldest player in NBA history to record one, surpassing Karl Malone, who accomplished the feat at age 40 in 2003.
Los Angeles improved to 33-21 heading into the All-Star break, fueled by balanced scoring and crisp ball movement that produced 35 team assists. Forward Rui Hachimura shot 9-for-13 en route to 21 points, while center Jaxson Hayes delivered one of his best outings of the year with 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block. Guard Austin Reaves, still on a minutes limit, supplied 18 points, four rebounds and six assists off the bench.
After holding a single-digit edge at intermission, the Lakers opened the third quarter on a 32-19 run and never trailed again.
Up Next
The Lakers will rest during the All-Star break before meeting the L.A. Clippers next Friday back at Crypto.com Arena. Hayes is slated to compete in Saturday’s Slam Dunk Contest, and James is an All-Star Game starter. Doncic, selected as well, remains day-to-day with a hamstring issue ahead of Sunday’s showcase at Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
Source: LakersNation.com
