LOS ANGELES — Luka Doncic and LeBron James had been introduced collectively for nights like these. The 2 Los Angeles Lakers superstars topped 30 factors every in a recreation for the primary time this season.
Doncic had 34 factors, hitting 17 of 20 free throws, and 6 rebounds and eight assists. James had 31 factors on 12-of-18 capturing to go along with 9 rebounds and 6 assists.
The Lakers rallied for a 128-121 victory over the short-handed Memphis Grizzlies on Friday evening.
It was the third time total that Doncic and James each scored 30 or extra factors in the identical recreation, their forty second collectively. It occurred twice in March, a month after Doncic joined the Lakers in a blockbuster commerce from Dallas.
“Simply enjoying in rhythm. Looking for ways in which we will be productive,” stated James, the NBA’s oldest lively participant who turned 41 on Tuesday. “Luka did a fantastic job attending to the free throw line. Myself, simply making an attempt to sprinkle in a little bit bit right here, a little bit bit there. Simply making an attempt to be constant and tremendous environment friendly with my play. We labored effectively off one another.”
Doncic’s 17 made free throws had been one off his profession excessive, whereas his 20 makes an attempt had been a season excessive. As a staff, the Grizzlies had been 15 of 23 from the road.
“Simply making an attempt to get downhill much more than normal for me,” Doncic stated. “However for him, he’s simply enjoying his recreation, attacking no matter he sees, being environment friendly and serving to us win the video games.”
The Lakers improved to 11-0 in clutch-time wins this season. The sport was tied twice within the fourth, when the groups traded one-point leads till the ultimate 5 1/2 minutes. James had 10 factors within the interval and Doncic had six. They mixed for 5 assists and three rebounds.
“He was phenomenal,” Lakers coach JJ Redick stated about James. “There was just some stretches there the place they made runs and the response from him, it felt like practically each time we would have liked a bucket, he simply sort of willed it.”
Doncic hit James with a 70-foot outlet cross at one level.
“Among the finest quarterbacks and I’m a reasonably good receiver in the case of that,” James stated. “It’s my job to not permit the protection to interrupt that up or steal the ball. He put it on time and on the right track for me.”
Doncic and James received loads of assist from their teammates. Jake LaRavia had 21 factors and 9 rebounds and Marcus Sensible had 13 factors, eight rebounds and 7 assists. Jaxson Hayes added 12 factors off the bench.
“Them doing that, it really takes the stress and the load off LeBron and Luka,” Redick stated.
