(Basketball news) LeBron James became the NBA’s career scoring leader with a trademark stepback jumper late in the third quarter as he passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record during his 38-point performance in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 133-130 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. James surpassed the record which was held since April 1984 by Abdul-Jabbar, who was also present and watched the game from a baseline seat near the Lakers’ bench. Abdul-Jabbar then joined a clearly emotional James and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on the court after that historic basket. James’ mother, wife and children were also present as they watched from courtside amid a celebrity-studded crowd that rose in waves of anticipation nearly every time he scored a basket.
The Los Angeles Lakers couldn’t get the win for Lebron as they lost to the Oklahoma City Thunders, who were playing their second game in two days. For the OKC, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points and Jalen Williams had 25 as they moved 1 and half games ahead of the 13th-place Lakers near the bottom of the Western Conference standings. For the Lakers, Russell Westbrook had 27 points and eight assists as it could be his last game in the purple gold ahead of the trade deadline tomorrow while Anthony Davis managed just 13 points in a disappointing performance on a historic night.
“I just want to say thank you to the Laker faithful,” James said. “You guys are one of a kind. To be able to be in the presence of such a legend as great as Kareem, it’s very humbling.”
The Denver Nuggets steamrolled past the Minnesota Timberwolves as they beat them 146-112. For the Nuggets, Jokic posted his 19th triple-double of the season by halftime as he finished with 20 points, 16 assists and 12 rebounds while Michael Porter Jr. led the way by scoring 19 of his 30 points in the first quarter as Aaron Gordon added 24 points. For the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards and Luka Garza both had 19 points while D’Angelo Russell scored 10 points before getting ejected. With this result the Nuggets stayed comfortably on top of the Western Conference table with a record of 38-17.
”We didn’t play with a lot of physicality. It wasn’t there early,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. ”Bunch of bad turnovers to start the game, then transition was a disaster. Their shot-making, they got hot and it was over. They kicked our butt in every way you can.”
”We had a night where we were firing on all cylinders,” Malone said. ”When we play like that, it’s a lot of fun to watch.”
”Bones is one of my favorite players,” Porter told the media contingent during the morning shootaround. ”I wish he would stay here. I wish it could be figured out.’
Also read: NBA: Warriors thrash OKC while Bucks get a win over the Trailblazers
