Two days shy of his 39th birthday, LeBron James contributed 17 points and 11 assists, Anthony Davis added 26 points and eight rebounds, propelling the Los Angeles Lakers to a 133-112 victory over the struggling Charlotte Hornets on Thursday night.
The Lakers, led by Rui Hachimura’s 17 points and Austin Reaves’ 16, secured their third win in nine games since winning the NBA’s In-Season Tournament. A decisive 41-point third quarter, fueled by Hachimura and James, propelled Los Angeles to a comfortable lead.
D’Angelo Russell, with 16 points and four 3-pointers, marked his 1,300th career 3-pointer. Despite a halftime lead of just one point, the Lakers surged ahead in the fourth, enabling coach Darvin Ham to rest James and Davis for the entire final quarter.
Despite being the NBA’s oldest player, LeBron James showcased no signs of slowing down in his 21st season, leading the Lakers with two 3-pointers and orchestrating key stretches of the offense.
Miles Bridges (20 points) and Terry Rozier (18 points) couldn’t halt the Hornets’ ninth consecutive loss, marking their longest skid since late 2014. LaMelo Ball missed his 14th straight game due to a sprained left ankle.
Replacing Cam Reddish, Rui Hachimura initially struggled but later joined James and Davis in guiding the Lakers to their first double-digit lead of the night, making 10 of their first 12 shots in the second half.
The Lakers, with their ninth starting lineup in 32 games this season, utilized their depth in the fourth quarter. Christian Wood and rookie Jalen Hood-Schifino made significant contributions, closing the game with a convincing victory.
