NBA: Birthday boy LeBron James has season-high 47 as Lakers top Hawks
LeBron James celebrated his 38th birthday by scoring a top 47 of the season to help the Los Angeles Lakers close a 15-point lead and beat the Atlanta Hawks 130-121 on Friday.
James has scored a season-high 18 goals and is 4 to 6 of 3 with 10 rebounds and 9 assists, just short of his first brace of the season. James had 3 pointers and played 3 points in the 4th half after the Hawks took a one-point lead.
Los Angeles also had a season-high 19 points and 17 rebounds from Thomas Bryant, 14 points and 11 assists from Russell Westbrook and 12 points and nine assists from Dennis Schroder. The Lakers don’t have Lonnie Walker IV (contaminated tailbone).
47 points
10 REB
9 AST
Lakers WomenLeBron appeared on his 38th birthday. pic.twitter.com/33lO5BnVpo
– NBA (@NBA) December 31, 2022
Trae Young, who missed a game with a left calf injury, came back and led the team with 29 points and eight assists. Dejounte Murray added 20 points and 9 assists while Onyeka Okongwu had 17 points, 8 rebounds and 3 saves. It was the Hawks’ third loss in a row.
The Hawks played without two starters – top counter-attackers Clint Capela (right calf strain) and De’Andre Hunter (left ankle sprain).
Young scored 13 points and James scored just two in the first half, with the Hawks leading 33–23. Young fell back hard at the end of the half and was taken to the dressing room for treatment, but he returned early in the second half.
Atlanta led by 15 points in the second half, but the Lakers – a 15-point lead from James – took the lead to 67-62 after halftime.
When Atlanta’s domestic players were in trouble, the Lakers took the lead and took an 82-81 lead through James, who had scored 13 goals in the third half. Los Angeles led 98-95 into the final inning.
Los Angeles will complete its five-game tour on Monday in Charlotte. Atlanta begins a four-game tour of the West Coast on Monday at Golden State.
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