LeBron James showcased his greatness once again, putting up an impressive 40 points and equaling his career-best mark with nine three-pointers as he propelled the Los Angeles Lakers to a commanding 116-104 victory over the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center on Monday (PHL).
Following their loss to the Indiana Pacers, which halted their season-high five-game winning streak, the Lakers were eager for a bounce back game to keep their Playoff hopes alive.
Early on, the Lakers asserted their dominance as they kept the Nets scoreless for much of the opening quarter, resulting in a commanding 17-0 lead.
Los Angeles extended this lead to 31-7 later in the quarter, and eventually reached a 72-46 advantage early in the third.
However, Cam Thomas, who finished with 30 points and six assists, ensured that the Nets didn't concede without a fight, spearheading a 9-2 run that narrowed Brooklyn's deficit to 90-79 going into the final quarter.
Thomas began the fourth quarter with a three-pointer, trimming the Lakers' lead to 90-82.
But from that point onward, James seized control of the game, delivering consecutive three-pointers, stretching the Lakers' lead to 96-82 with 10:50 left.
James continued to apply pressure on the Nets' defense, adding five more points over the next three minutes before sinking his eighth and ninth three-pointers of the game, including a remarkable fadeaway from the corner, pushing the Lakers to an insurmountable 18-point edge with 6:21 remaining.
BRON IS FEELING IT IN BROOKLYN. https://t.co/FMCyRVpy14 pic.twitter.com/9XWDkKq4Wp
— NBA (@NBA) April 1, 2024
James' exceptional shooting from beyond the arc stood out, matching his career-high that he set when he made nine threes against the Clippers last season.
James joined Kobe Bryant as the second Lakers player to achieve the feat of making nine 3-pointers in multiple games. Notably, James also became the first Lakers player to achieve this while shooting an exceptional 90% from beyond the arc.
In addition to James' stellar performance, Anthony Davis contributed 24 points along with 14 rebounds. Rui Hachimura recorded a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while D'Angelo Russell chipped in with 18 points, six rebounds, and six assists.
The win put the Lakers at a 42-33 record, positioning them at the ninth spot in the Western Conference with a two-game advantage over the Golden State Warriors.
The Nets, on the other hand, had their three-game winning streak halted as they dropped to 29-46 in the East.
