LeBron James moved within 89 points of breaking the NBA’s career scoring record and climbed into fourth place on the assists list, finishing with a triple-double in his return to Madison Square Garden as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New York Knicks 129-123 on Tuesday night.
James had 28 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, with the points giving him 38,299 for his career. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the leader with 38,387.
But James’ game has always been about more than scoring, as he proved again Tuesday.
He fed Dennis Schroder for a 3-pointer that snapped a 118-all tie with 3:13 remaining, grabbed his 10th rebound later in the extra period and then powered to the basket for a 127-121 lead with 19 seconds to go.
LeBron James #6 drives to the basket during the game against the New York Knicks
He had earlier moved ahead of Mark Jackson and then Steve Nash into fourth place on the assists list during his first game at Madison Square Garden in three years.
Anthony Davis added 27 points and nine rebounds for the Lakers, who had dropped two straight to open their trip. Both James and Davis had sat out their loss Monday in Brooklyn.
Jalen Brunson scored 37 points and Julius Randle had 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks.
James’ 3-pointer with 1:41 remaining in regulation gave the Lakers a 114-108 lead, but he then missed two long jumpers that could’ve put away the game. The Knicks rallied to tie it at 114 on a basket by Brunson, who then stepped in to draw an offensive foul after James fed Davis near the basket. But Randle couldn’t get a shot off in time in the Knicks’ last possession, sending the Lakers to overtime for the second time in three games.
James sat out Monday with what coach Darvin Ham said was left foot soreness, though the Lakers had listed the injury as an ankle. They listed him as questionable to play in the morning, then upgraded James to available after he moved well during a pregame workout.
James (6) shoots over New York Knicks’ RJ Barrett (9) as Jalen Brunson (11) watches
He certainly didn’t want to miss this one after being hurt two years ago and suspended last season for striking Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart in the face. His last game here was Jan. 22, 2000, when he was days away from passing Kobe Bryant into third place on the career scoring list.
Now the only one left to catch is Abdul-Jabbar, which could happen in the next 10 days.
The game was tied at 90 before James fed Troy Brown Jr. for a 3-pointer with his eighth assist, then set up Thomas Bryant for a dunk that moved him ahead of Jackson and then Nash into fourth place for assists. He has 10,338 assists.
James has already called MSG one of his favorite places to play and this visit draw a sellout crowd that included celebrities such as Michael J. Fox, Michael B. Jordan, Emma Stone and Chris Rock. Fans filled seats in the lower sections of the arena just to watch James warm up, but he struggled to give them one of his vintage performances once the game began.
He threw up an airball in the second quarter as part of his 2-for-8 start, but made his final two shots of the half, then threw a pass that Schroder heaved in from halfcourt to beat the buzzer and cut it to 53-52 at halftime.
Rui Hachimura (28) celebrates with James (6) and Russell Westbrook (0) after James scored
BUCKS 124, HORNETS 115
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 34 points and 18 rebounds and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Charlotte Hornets 124-115 on Tuesday night to win their fifth straight and avenge one of their most embarrassing losses of the season.
The Bucks withstood a triple-double from Charlotte´s LaMelo Ball, who had 27 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds.
Charlotte (16-36) entered the night with the fourth-worst record in the NBA, but the Hornets won 138-109 at Milwaukee on Jan. 6 to hand the Bucks their second-most lopsided loss of the season. The Hornets had 51 points in the opening period that night – matching the NBA record for a first quarter – and limited Antetokounmpo to nine points.
Charlotte Hornets’ LaMelo Ball shoots past Milwaukee Bucks’ Brook Lopez during the first half
HEAT 100, CAVALIERS 97
Jimmy Butler scored 23 points, Bam Adebayo added 18 points and 11 rebounds and the Miami Heat showed their experience down the stretch in a 100-97 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night.
Caleb Martin scored 18 points and matched his career high with 10 rebounds, and Tyler Herro also scored 18 for the Heat, who moved within 1 1/2 games of the fifth-place Cavs in the Eastern Conference standings.
After 45 up-and-down minutes, the Heat made key plays when it mattered most.
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) plays against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ricky Rubio
CLIPPERS 108, BULLS 103
Kawhi Leonard scored 33 points and Norman Powell added 27 to help the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Chicago Bulls 108-103 on Tuesday night.
Paul George added 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers, who´ve won six of seven.
Nikola Vucevic had 23 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Bulls, who dropped the first of a four-game homestand. DeMar DeRozan added 20 points and Zach LaVine finished with 18 points and 14 boards.
Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers dunks in the second half against the Chicago Bulls
NUGGETS 122, PELICANS 113
Nikola Jokic put forth a great effort recording a triple-double in the 122-113 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. His stat line to end the night read an impressive 26 points, 18 rebounds and 15 assist.
Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 32 points while also dishing out six assists.
CJ McCollum and Herbert Jones had dualling 21 point efforts to lead New Orleans in the loss.
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Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, right, goes up for a basket as Pelicans Herbert Jones
