LeBron James delivered a remarkable performance with a season-high 48 points as the Los Angeles Lakers triumphed over the Houston Rockets 140-132 on Monday.
The 38-year-old’s stellar play snapped the Lakers’ three-game losing streak and brought him closer to surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time NBA scoring record. James now sits just 316 points shy of Abdul-Jabbar’s record, having already surpassed 38,000 career points on Sunday.
“I was incredibly worn out and sore today, having played back-to-back games after our loss to the Philadelphia 76ers,” James admitted post-game. “But stepping onto the court with the crowd cheering, it’s my responsibility to give my best performance. I could have easily rested tonight, but our team needed me.”
This game marked the fifth time in seven games that James scored over 35 points, and he also contributed nine assists and eight rebounds. Russell Westbrook added 24 points for the Lakers, who managed to stay ahead despite Houston’s strong efforts.
The Rockets’ Alperen Şengün had an impressive outing with 33 points on 14-of-17 shooting, along with 15 rebounds, six assists, and four blocks. However, the Lakers’ reliance on James proved decisive.
Lakers coach Darvin Ham praised James’ performance, calling it historic. “To see him perform at this level at his stage in his career is remarkable,” Ham said. “Witnessing his competitive spirit and relentless drive is truly amazing.”