By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
LeBron James scored a season-high 43 points one day after becoming 37 years old as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 139 – 106 to bounce back to wins.
It was a historic game for LeBron who became the oldest player ever in the NBA with at least 40 points plus 14 rebounds. The previous record-holder was Larry Bird at 35 years of age.
“I don’t feel like I have been in the league 19 years. When I am daily reminded of it, I feel it sometimes,” James said after the match. His Lakers were in big need of a victory after six losses in their last seven games. “Sometimes you do have to remind people you can still do what you can do at a high level.”
DeMar DeRozan hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to hand the Chicago Bulls a 108 – 108 win over the Indiana Pacers. The Bulls continued their crazy 2021-22 ride by registering their sixth straight win, with Nikola Vucevic conributing 14 points, 16 rebounds plus four assists.
Domantas Sabonis finished with 24 points, 14 rebounds and six assists for the struggling (14-22) Pacers.
The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Sacramento Kings 112 – 96 behind 24 points, nine rebounds and six assists by Kristaps Porzingis. The Latvian big man shot 8-12 from the field in a brilliant overall output.
The rest of Friday’s (31/1/2021) results:
Phoenix Suns – Boston Celtics 123 – 108
Houston Rockets – Miami Heat 110 – 120
Cleveland Cavaliers – Atlanta Hawks 118 – 121
Toronto Raptors – Los Angeles Clippers 116 – 108
San Antonio Spurs – Memphis Grizzlies 118 – 105
Oklahoma City Thunder – New York Knicks 95 – 80
Minnesota Timberwolves – Utah Jazz 108 – 120