LeBron James put together back-to-back vintage performances for the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday and Thursday.
Despite the Lakers losing to the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday, James was sensational, finishing with 26 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds. He had a chance to send the game to overtime in the final seconds of the fourth quarter but missed the three-pointer.
He followed up that performance with a 40-point eight-rebound game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday. He helped the Lakers bounce back and win by eight, 110-102.
The win got the Lakers to 33-21 overall and after the game, Lakers head coach JJ Redick shouted out James for how well he played. He also had a message for some of James’s biggest critics.
“He’s a billionaire and he’s playing on the second night of a back-to-back at 40 after 22 years with every freaking record and accolade. And the kids will say I’m glazing him. He’s one of the greatest competitors,” Redick said, via Jacob Rude.
James is 40 and is still putting up numbers like this. It’s why he’s one of the greatest players in NBA history.
He and Luka Doncic have been great together since Doncic was dealt to the Lakers. They’ll be a tough out once the playoffs start in April.
The Lakers are the fifth seed in the Western Conference right now, a half-game behind the Houston Rockets for fourth. The Lakers will play their third game in four nights on Saturday when they travel to Denver to take on the Nuggets.
The Nuggets are 37-19, good for second in the Western Conference. Tip-off will be at 8:30 p.m. ET.
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