LeBron James returned to the court for the Los Angeles Lakers and contributed 30 points in their 123-118 victory over the San Antonio Spurs at home. Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets, reigning champions, secured another win against the Portland Trail Blazers. Tyrese Maxey led the Philadelphia 76ers to a 104-97 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers with 24 points.
A noteworthy incident occurred during the Miami Heat’s 106-95 victory against the New Orleans Pelicans, where four players, including Jimmy Butler, were ejected following a skirmish. Butler had scored 23 points before his ejection, with Bam Adebayo adding 24 points as the Heat climbed to a 31-25 record, tying with the Orlando Magic for the top spot in the Eastern Conference Southeast division.
LeBron James, who had missed the Lakers’ previous two games due to an ankle injury, returned with an impressive performance, registering nine assists and seven rebounds alongside his 30 points. Anthony Davis also contributed significantly with 28 points and 13 rebounds, helping the Lakers to a 31-27 record. In another game, Victor Wembanyama made history as the youngest player ever to achieve a ‘5×5’ statistical performance, recording at least five points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals in a single game.
Reflecting on Wembanyama’s achievement, James praised the French rookie’s potential, stating that he possesses limitless capabilities in his career. With the Cavaliers suffering their second consecutive loss and third in four games, they now stand at 36-19, leading the Eastern Conference Central division.
Elsewhere, Nikola Jokic delivered a stellar performance with 29 points, 15 rebounds, and 14 assists, securing his 17th triple-double of the season as the Nuggets defeated the Trail Blazers to reach a 38-19 record. Additionally, Giannis Antetokounmpo contributed 33 points and 13 rebounds in the Milwaukee Bucks’ 112-107 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Oklahoma City Thunder also claimed a decisive win against the Washington Wizards, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 30 points in their 147-106 triumph.
In other matchups, the Golden State Warriors secured a 97-84 win against the Charlotte Hornets, with Stephen Curry scoring 15 points. However, Kevin Durant’s 28 points weren’t sufficient for the Phoenix Suns as they fell short in a 114-110 loss to the Houston Rockets.