LeBron James etched his name into the history books with a 30-point performance, leading the Los Angeles Lakers (20-14) to a decisive 119-102 win over the Atlanta Hawks (18-17) on Friday night. With this outing, James became the NBA’s all-time leader in 30-point games, surpassing Michael Jordan’s previous mark of 562.
James achieved the milestone by sinking an 18-foot jumper midway through the fourth quarter, recording the 563rd 30-point game of his illustrious 22-year career. The Lakers captain also contributed eight assists, helping his team pull away in the final minutes of their third home game in four nights.
Austin Reaves added 20 points, while Anthony Davis delivered a dominant double-double with 18 points and 19 rebounds. Davis returned to the lineup after resting a sprained left ankle in the Lakers’ 114-106 win over Portland on Thursday. Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht chipped in 13 points each off the bench.
Los Angeles has now won seven of its last nine games, climbing to fourth place in the Western Conference standings. Despite committing 18 turnovers, the Lakers capitalized on their superior shooting, converting 48.9% of their field goals and 43.3% of their three-point attempts.
Trae Young led the Hawks with 33 points and nine assists but found little help from his teammates. Jalen Johnson was the only other Atlanta starter to score in double figures, finishing with 19 points.
The Hawks struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 17.6% as a team, with several key players combining for a dismal 2-for-21 from three-point range.
Los Angeles demonstrated its depth as Bronny James returned to action, logging 1:41 in his first game since Dec. 8.
Meanwhile, Atlanta has lost two straight and continues a challenging six-game road trip. Onyeka Okongwu provided some relief with 14 points and 11 rebounds off the bench, but the Hawks were unable to keep pace in the closing moments.