NBA roundup: LeBron powers Lakers past Warriors, Mavs secure first win of post-Doncic era

LeBron James has joined NBA legend Michael Jordan as the only players to achieve the milestone of scoring 40 points in a game at the age of 40, netting 42 points on Thursday as the Los Angeles Lakers triumphed over the Golden State Warriors with a score of 120-112.

Having celebrated his 40th birthday on December 30, James showcased yet another remarkable performance, which included a three-pointer from the half-court logo in the first half and a crucial three-pointer that extended the Lakers' lead to 115-106 with just 1:08 left on the clock.

His sixth three-pointer of the evening was pivotal in countering a late rally by the Warriors, who had managed to reduce a 26-point deficit to just five points at 109-104 with 3:40 remaining.

Warriors star Stephen Curry overcame a sluggish start to play a significant role in the comeback, contributing 19 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter.

However, James and the Lakers remained resolute. In addition to his scoring, James recorded 17 rebounds, eight assists, one steal, and one blocked shot, leading the Lakers to their fourth consecutive victory and their tenth win in the last twelve games.

When reflecting on his achievement of joining the exclusive 40-at-40 club, James humorously remarked, "What do I think? That I'm old. I need a glass of wine and some sleep."

On a more serious note, he stated, "The biggest thing is that we got the win. But anytime I've been named or (put) in the category with any of the greats it's always humbling."

This performance was witnessed by Luka Doncic, the 25-year-old Slovenian star recently acquired by the Lakers from the Dallas Mavericks in a trade that sent big man Anthony Davis to Dallas, a move that sent shockwaves through the NBA.

Doncic, currently recovering from a calf injury, may make his Lakers debut as soon as Saturday, although Lakers coach JJ Redick suggested it is more likely to occur in Monday's game against Utah.

The Warriors are also anticipating the return of Jimmy Butler, whose acquisition at the trade deadline marked the end of his contentious relationship with the Miami Heat.

With the agreement finalized, Butler became a member of the Warriors in Los Angeles, expressing his joy at being "just so happy to be playing basketball again" following three suspensions this season by the Heat for actions deemed detrimental to the team amid his trade request.

As Lakers fans eagerly anticipated the Slovenian's debut from the sidelines, Minnesota's Anthony Edwards was busy setting a record previously held by Doncic.

Edwards scored 41 points, leading the Timberwolves to a 127-114 victory over the Houston Rockets at home.

Just one day after his impressive 49-point performance secured a win against Chicago, Edwards established a franchise record for the most 40-point games, achieving 14 and surpassing Karl-Anthony Towns.

The 23-year-old also made five three-pointers, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to reach 1,000 career three-pointers, breaking the record previously held by Doncic, who accomplished the feat at 24 years and 286 days.

In another matchup, the revamped Mavericks, energized by a strong start from Klay Thompson, triumphed over the NBA champion Celtics with a score of 127-120 in Boston, marking a rematch of the NBA Finals.

Davis's debut with Dallas was postponed once more as he continues to recover from an abdominal strain.

However, Thompson, who joined the team in the offseason, showcased his scoring ability by netting 23 of his team-high 25 points in the first half, helping the Mavericks secure victory in their first visit to Boston since their defeat in game five of last season's championship series.

Kyrie Irving contributed 19 points for the Mavericks, who held a lead of up to 27 points.

Jaylen Brown was the leading scorer for Boston with 25 points, while Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis each added 17 points before Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla opted to rest his starters in the fourth quarter.

In various matches, NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic achieved his 24th triple-double of the season, accumulating 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists prior to resting during the fourth quarter of the Denver Nuggets' commanding 112-90 victory over the Orlando Magic.

Pascal Siakam contributed 33 points and secured 11 rebounds for the Indiana Pacers, who overcame a 22-point deficit to triumph over the Los Angeles Clippers with a score of 119-112.

SportsLigue