LeBron James posted the 125th triple-double of his career while leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a comprehensive 120-101 win over the visiting Washington Wizards yesterday (Philippine time).
James compiled 21 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists to become, at 41 years, 90 days, the oldest player to notch a triple-double, surpassing his own record of 41 years, 79 days.
It was his third triple-double of the season.
Austin Reaves, Jaxson Hayes and Luke Kennard contributed 19 points apiece for the Lakers (49-26), who have won 15 of their past 17 games. Los Angeles was without Luka Doncic, the league’s leading scorer, due to a one-game suspension for technical-foul accumulation.
Hayes sank all eight of his shots from the floor while Kennard hit 4-of-5 from three-point range. The rest of the Lakers went 3-of-19 from deep.
Will Riley scored 20 points, Justin Champagnie added 18 and Tristan Vukcevic had 14 for Washington (17-58), which has lost 19 of its past 20 outings.
The Lakers jumped out to an 11-4 lead on James’ alley-oop flush from a Reaves lob, but the Wizards chipped into the deficit and led at 26-25 at the end of the first quarter after Jamir Watkins’ dunk with 0.2 seconds remaining.
Washington went up 31-27 on a Jaden Hardy trey before Los Angeles uncorked the first of two 11-0 bursts in the second period, effectively putting the contest to bed.
The Wizards sank just 7-of-24 attempts from the floor for the quarter, including 1-of-10 from deep. Meanwhile, the Lakers attacked the paint with efficiency, piloted by Hayes’ nine points and five boards for the period, to waltz ahead 65-44 entering halftime.
Los Angeles streaked ahead 72-48, and a second blowout in as many days loomed for Washington, which lost by 35 at Portland on Sunday.
However, the Wizards managed to salvage some momentum with a 9-0 burst to close the margin to 81-71 after a Champagnie layup. The gap was 91-77 with a quarter to play.
A 13-1 Lakers spree in the space of 1:44 saw the margin balloon to 114-84 in the fourth. (Field Level Media / Reuters)