Los Angeles Lakers ahead LeBron James (23) dunks towards Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder guard Luguentz Dort, left, as ahead Kenrich Williams, proper, watches through the first half of an NBA basketball recreation Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023, in Oklahoma Metropolis. (AP Photograph/Nate Billings)
OKLAHOMA CITY — LeBron James scored a season-high 40 factors and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder 129-120 on Saturday night time to snap a four-game dropping streak.
The 38-year-old James was 13 of 20 from the sphere, hitting 5 3-pointers with out a miss, and made all 9 of his free throws. He additionally had seven rebounds, seven assists and two blocks.
Oklahoma Metropolis trimmed what had been a 26-point deficit with 3:32 left within the third quarter to eight factors halfway by means of the fourth quarter. James then took over, scoring 11 factors within the ultimate 4:29 to assist the Lakers maintain on.
“To know I can exit and nonetheless make game-winning performs, can have an effect on the sport in a number of methods and might nonetheless shut out a recreation within the fourth quarter when our workforce wanted after they began making a run is all the time an excellent feeling for positive,” James mentioned.
LEBRON 40-PIECE IN LAKERS W 👑
40 PTS
7 REB
7 AST
5/5 3PM pic.twitter.com/oK6xH99HC4
— NBA (@NBA) December 24, 2023
Anthony Davis, who had referred to as this a must-win recreation, added 26 factors, 11 rebounds and 7 assists for the Lakers. Rui Hachimura scored 21 factors and Austin Reaves chipped in 11 factors and 9 assists for Los Angeles, which had gone 1-5 since successful the In-Season Match.
The Lakers shot 52.2% and had a season-high 37 assists to simply 9 turnovers.
“Everybody was making photographs and all people was passing the ball,” James mentioned. “We have been making an attempt to maintain it on time, heading in the right direction and never flip the ball over. That was the important thing to it.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 factors for Oklahoma Metropolis. Jalen Williams added 28 and Chet Holmgren had 19 factors and 10 rebounds. The Thunder had gained three straight and 5 of six.
Hachimura scored 16 factors within the first half to assist Los Angeles take a 71-59 lead on the break. The Lakers shot 60% from the sphere within the first two quarters.
The Thunder referred to as a timeout after James hit a 3-pointer with the 7-foot-1 Holmgren in his face early within the third to place the Lakers up 78-64. James hit one other 3-pointer, then lobbed to Davis for a robust two-handed dunk that gave the Lakers a 90-70 lead and compelled one other Oklahoma Metropolis timeout.
Reaves hit a 3-pointer, was fouled and made the free throw with about 4 minutes left within the third to present the Lakers a 98-75 lead. Los Angeles took a 107-91 lead into the fourth.
The Thunder chopped the deficit to single digits halfway by means of the ultimate interval earlier than the Lakers held on. James’ nook 3 over a closeout by Gilgeous-Alexander put the Lakers forward 123-110 with 3:26 to play.
“They they got here out like a workforce that was determined for a win,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault mentioned. “I didn’t suppose we got here out like poor or sloppy or comfortable or something like that, however we simply didn’t amp it as much as the extent that we would have liked to, in that first half particularly. And we allowed them to type of get to a groove. And I assumed that was actually the sport proper there. So it’s an excellent lesson for us.”
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Lakers: Host Boston on Monday.
Thunder: Host Minnesota on Tuesday night time.