The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Atlanta Hawks 119-102 on Friday night, and LeBron James broke Michael Jordan’s record by scoring 30 points to become the NBA’s career leader in 30-point games.
James broke the record set by his childhood hero in 2003 by making an 18-foot jumper halfway through the fourth quarter to secure the 563rd 30-point performance of his 22-year career.
The Lakers showed minimal signs of weariness as they won the last few minutes of their third home game in four nights, with James scoring nine points in the fourth quarter.
After missing Thursday night’s Lakers victory against Portland 114-106 due to a sprained left ankle, Austin Reaves scored 20 points and Anthony Davis finished with 18 points and 19 rebounds.
Los Angeles is now in fourth place in the Western Conference after winning seven of nine games.
The Hawks lost their second consecutive game halfway through a six-game trip, despite having 33 points and nine assists from Trae Young. 19 points were scored by Jalen Johnson.
In the last 1:41 of his first NBA game since December 8, Bronny James played.
Takeaways
Hawks: Despite playing active defense the entire night, they were unable to shoot. Garrison Matthews, Bogdan Bogdanovic, De’Andre Hunter, Zaccharie Risacher, and Dyson Daniels were 2-for-21 on 3-pointers.
Lakers: Since losing in overtime in Atlanta last month, Los Angeles’ play has improved, and even 18 turnovers couldn’t stop it.
Key moment
The Hawks were still in the game when James made two baskets that looked a lot like a crucial component of Jordan’s repertoire halfway through the fourth quarter, including back-to-back turnaround jumpers.
Key stat
In addition, James participated in his 1,523rd NBA regular-season game, moving up to fourth place behind Dirk Nowitzki.
Up next
On Saturday, the Hawks go to the 91 to play the Clippers on the 110 highway. The Lakers begin a two-game trip to Texas on Sunday in Houston.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!