LeBron James scored 40 points on Sunday, his best mark of the season in the NBA, and equaled his personal record of 9 triples in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 116-104 victory against the Brooklyn Nets.
At 39 years old, ‘King James’ does not take his foot off the accelerator and strives to put the Lakers in the best possible position before the end of the regular season on April 14.
The Los Angeles team, with a balance of 42-33, remains in ninth place in the Western Conference, which would require it to win two play-in games to access the playoffs.
If they overtake the Sacramento Kings, who are one win ahead, the Lakers would only need a victory in the playoff.
Against the weakened Nets, LeBron gave a performance of effectiveness to reach 40 points for the third time this year, with a spectacular statistic of 13-17 in field goals and 9-10 in triples, adding 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
The 9 triples made equaled his best mark in his 21-year NBA career.
“Today I felt pretty good shooting from the perimeter. I try to continually display my game without weaknesses, especially in attack. Tonight I did well from the three-point line,” congratulated James, who reached 77 games of at least 40 points in his career.
With the victory in his pocket, James retired to the bench three minutes from time to the applause of the Barclays Center audience, in front of whom he staged his traditional gesture of placing a crown.
At his side, Anthony Davis added 24 points and 14 rebounds and the Japanese Rui Hachimura another 20 and 10 as the Lakers achieved their sixth win in the last seven games.
For the Nets, eleventh in the East (29-46), young guard Cam Thomas reached 30 points and his figure Mikal Bridges stayed at 13.
Nuggets seal ticket
In Denver, the Nuggets defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-101 and clinched a playoff berth with their record of 52 wins and 23 losses.
Nikola Jokic completed a line of 26 points, 18 rebounds and 16 assists to reach his 23rd triple double of the season.
“I’m so happy that he wears a Nuggets uniform. I would hate to play against him and have to put together a plan against him,” said Michael Malone, coach of the reigning champions, about his Serbian star.
The Nuggets, who continue to have point guard Jamal Murray out, are in a fierce battle with the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves for first place in the West, which offers home field advantage in the playoffs until the Finals.
With 23 points, power forward Evan Mobley was the main scorer for the Cavaliers, whose leader, Donovan Mitchell, has not yet recovered his best form after his injury and was limited to scoring 13 points.
For their part, the Miami Heat beat the Washington Wizards 119-107 at home with 27 points from point guard Terry Rozier and 9 from Mexican-American rookie Jaime Jáquez Jr., who was a substitute and was only on the court for 19 minutes.