By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
LeBron James hit the 50,000-point mark, and the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans, 136-115, in crypto.com Arena.
The first player to combine 50,000 points between the Regular Season and Playoffs of the NBA was assisted by Luka Doncic in a three-pointer early in the first quarter to complete the milestone.
“It’s amazing. Watching him do this stuff at this age, it’s unbelievable,” Doncic reacted to the latest achievement of the four-time NBA champion.
Cleared from a right knee contusion to play on Tuesday, the Slovenian superstar finished with 30 points, 15 assists, eight rebounds, one block, and one steal. “I’m still getting that rhythm,” he described adjusting to the Lakers during a postgame press conference, “At the end of the day, it’s about winning games. We’re doing that now, and we can’t relax at all.”
Further European options for head coach JJ Redick went from Ukrainian Alex Len logging four fruitless minutes to German Maxi Kleber (right foot surgery) remaining sidelined. For the visitors, Croatian Karlo Matkovic lasted nearly 18 minutes for five points, four rebounds, three assists, and one block.
Sengun bounces back
Elsewhere, Turkish Alperen Sengun (lower back soreness) returned to action with 25 points combined with nine rebounds and seven assists, but he was not enough for the Houston Rockets in a loss, 115-102, to the Indiana Pacers in Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic (right calf strain) remained sidelined as the Chicago Bulls surrendered to the Cleveland Cavaliers, 139-117, in United Center. Lithuanian Matas Buzelis finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and one block.