LeBron James scores 43 as Lakers knock off Hornets – Press Enterprise

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — An hour earlier than tip-off, the Lakers have been grimly watching the monitor of their locker room. The sport on the TV: Their ultimate quarter from the final time they performed these Hornets, lower than two weeks in the past.

They grimaced. Sometimes they muttered: “That didn’t get known as?” or “Can’t consider I missed that.”

The heavy ambiance underscored a sense permeating the crew: The Lakers didn’t wish to let one other one get away towards Charlotte.

Even with out three of the crew’s high 4 scorers ending the sport, the Lakers (16-21) nonetheless had sufficient to exit the Spectrum Heart with a 121-115 win – led by LeBron James with 43 factors, his second straight recreation of 40 or extra, and each in wins.

James has been blistering since All-Star huge man Anthony Davis has been injured, averaging practically 35 factors on 58.5% capturing in his final 9 appearances. It has began to resemble his heater final season, when it seemed as if the four-time league MVP may problem to steer the league in scoring – now James is a yr older, however his bullying drives to the basket have been positively classic.

“Clearly, discovered a very good groove final yr,” James stated. “However this yr is that this yr, as properly. I really feel actually good in each side of my recreation.”

The sport had a distinct taste than the earlier matchup, when the Lakers gave up 32 factors off of turnovers and 14 second-chance factors, as Coach Darvin Ham pointedly referenced in his pregame feedback. Within the rematch, the mixed factors in these classes dropped to 16, because the Lakers scrapped for 53 rebounds and ran again in transition.

James was the chief aggressor, flying in transition for just a few alley-oops, together with a third-quarter reverse dunk from Dennis Schröder at a particularly awkward angle. He additionally hit early turnaround jumpers within the paint, an early signal that the 38-year-old was primed for an additional huge recreation after his season-high 47 factors in Atlanta. He was 16 for 26 from the sector, piling up factors regardless of going 0 for five on 3-point makes an attempt.

“He’s actually at this level the place I believe the sport is totally slowed down for him the place he can see issues three, 4 performs forward; three, 4, 5 seconds forward,” Ham stated. “He’s doing an excellent job understanding when to assault. Actually getting out and operating and getting some simple buckets in transition. Studying the pick-and-roll when he’s setting the display screen, whether or not he’s dealing with. … It’s giving his teammates round him a ton of confidence the place groups simply can’t collapse the protection on LeBron.”

Whereas they led by as a lot as 24, they needed to sweat out an in depth end. James hit 4 free throws within the ultimate 17 seconds to seal the end result, giving the Lakers a 3-2 document on their street journey.

It was made all of the tougher by a second-half scratch for Russell Westbrook, who had a tricky night time with two factors and two assists on 1-for-8 capturing. He didn’t rejoin the crew within the second half with left foot soreness, an damage that led to him sitting out two video games in December.

James additionally completed with 11 rebounds and 6 assists on 16-for-26 capturing. 4 different Lakers completed in double figures, led by Thomas Bryant with 18 factors and 15 rebounds.

Charlotte guards LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier mixed for 52 factors – surging late within the fourth quarter when the Hornets outscored their guests by 12 factors. However for Ball, particularly, he discovered more durable defensive resistance towards Patrick Beverley (who had three first-half blocked pictures) and Schröder, going simply 9 for 22 with 5 turnovers.

“Sport was enjoyable that manner,” Beverley stated. “Anytime you get the ball in transition, we’re a tough crew to beat. That goes with getting stops and getting rebounds, deflections and all that. If we’re that sort of crew for, I don’t know, two or three quarters, we put ourselves in place to win lots of basketball video games.”

James is simply the second participant to have back-to-back video games of 40 factors or extra at age 38 or older, becoming a member of Michael Jordan. James has now scored 40 or extra factors in 71 video games in his profession, a feat that he discovered so much simpler in his first recreation in 2004 as a 19-year-old rookie than now, he stated.

“I don’t suppose at 18 it’s important to fear about getting 8 to 9 hours of sleep each night time, to fret about ensuring you’re doing all the things it’s essential to do to prepare. You possibly can actually simply exit and never stretch and simply be at your finest on the highest stage,” he stated. “However it’s all the time about giving again to the sport, treating the sport the proper manner. As a result of the Sport Gods will all the time pay you again in case you all the time decide to the sport the proper manner, and I’m nonetheless making an attempt to do that at this level in my profession.”

LeBron tonight within the Lakers W:

43 PTS
11 REB
6 AST

He turns into the second participant in NBA historical past to document back-to-back 40+ level video games at age 35 or older, becoming a member of Michael Jordan. pic.twitter.com/8RtoNJwuJ4

— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2023

“It is all the time a blessing if you’re in a position to placed on the uniform and play in entrance of followers which have watched me for the final 20 years.” @KingJames on his efficiency within the east coast street journey. @LakersReporter pic.twitter.com/jcOxbBsZtE

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) January 3, 2023

“I believe we got here out with a defensive focus, simply actually guys being engaged.” Coach Ham on his takeaways from tonight’s #Lakers win. pic.twitter.com/ZxF39ZgQdg

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) January 3, 2023

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