By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
In the last MLK day game in the NBA, Lebron James fueled Los Angeles Lakers to a 140-132 win against Houston Rockets, as young Alperen Sengung gave his best performance for the losing side.
James had a season-high 48 points and joined Michael Jordan as the only 38 years old or older player with multiple 45-points games.
It was his 100th 40-point performance, including the postseason.
“I was extremely exhausted today. I could have very easily taken tonight off, but our ball club couldn’t use me taking a night off. I didn’t feel like it. I wanted to sit on that loss with Philly last night. I wanted to get that out of my taste buds and see if we could win a ballgame tonight. It was a complete team effort, and I just tried to make plays,” Lebron said after carrying the Lakers to another win.
With that, he took the spotlight from young Turkish center Sengun, who got himself a mighty double-double with career-high 33 points and 15 rebounds, shooting 14/17 from the field.
He also had six assists and four blocks and is the first Rocket with that stat line since Hakeem Olajuwon.
As for the European players, Dennis Schroder had nine points for the LA team, while Usman Garuba scored four for the Rockets.
On the same night, Memphis Grizzlies got their 10th win in a row defeating Phoenix Suns at home 136-106.
Santi Aldama got six points and five rebounds for the winning team, while Dario Saric scored 12 points with seven rebounds and five assists for the Arizona side.
Utah Jazz won at Minneapolis against Minnesota Timberwolves 126-125 after Jaden McDaniels missed a 3-point attempt at the buzzer for the win.
Lauri Markannen didn’t play due to a hip injury, while Rudy Gobert played only four and a half minutes, scoring two points, before leaving the game due to lingering groin soreness.
Interestingly, rookie Walker Kessler, who was a part of the trade between sides that led to Frenchman leaving Salt Lake City for Minnesota, scored 20 points with 21 rebounds for the Jazz.
More about matinee MLK day games HERE.
NBA results:
Charlotte Hornets – Boston Celtics 118-130
Milwaukee Bucks – Indiana Pacers 132-119
Cleveland Cavaliers – New Orleans Pelicans 113-103 (Rubio 2p, Osman 1p – Valanciunas 22p, 13r)
New York Knicks – Toronto Raptors 121-123 (Hartenstein 2p, 5r – Anunoby 10p, Juancho 1r)
Washington Wizards – Golden State Warriors 118-127 (Porzingis 32p, Avdija 6p, 5r)
Atlanta Hawks – Miami Heat 121-113 (Bogdan Bogdanovic 8p, 5as)
Minnesota Timberwolves – Utah Jazz 125-126 (Gobert 2p)
Memphis Grizzlies – Phoenix Suns 136-106 (Aldama 6p, 5r – Saric 12p, 7r, 5as)
LA Lakers – Houston Rockets 140-132 (Schroder 9p – Sengun 33p, 15r, 6as, Garuba 4p)
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Boston 33-12
2. Brooklyn 27-14
3. Milwaukee 28-16
4. Philadelphia 27-16
5. Cleveland 28-17
6. NY Knicks 25-20
7. Miami 24-21
8. Indiana 23-22
9. Atlanta 22-22
10. Chicago 20-24
11. Toronto 20-24
12. Washington 18-26
13. Orlando 16-28
14. Detroit 12-35
15. Charlotte 11-34
Western Conference
1. Denver 30-13
2. Memphis 30-13
3. New Orleans 26-18
4. Sacramento 24-18
5. Dallas 24-21
6. LA Clippers 23-22
7. Golden State 22-22
8. Utah 23-24
9. Minnesota 22-23
10. Portland 21-22
11. Oklahoma 21-23
12. Phoenix 21-24
13. LA Lakers 20-24
14. San Antonio 13-31
15. Houston 10-34