LeBron James’ 50 points push Lakers to victory over Wizards

Kyle Kuzma stood on the scorer’s desk earlier than tip-off Friday, the previous Laker able to tackle his outdated group for the primary time since being traded final summer time.

The setting was the identical however a lot has modified since he left.

He headed onto the court docket and was met by LeBron James. The previous teammates, who gained a championship collectively, embraced. Then it was nothing however fast handshakes for the opposite 4 Lakers on the ground.

It wasn’t dangerous blood — Kuzma had by no means performed a second with any of them.

However so far as constants go, even within the face of chaos, you could possibly do lots worse than James, who once more was sensational in a 122-109 victory over Washington.

After his sixth three-point shot of the sport, all of the Wizards may do was name outing to attempt to take cowl from an avalanche of factors. As gamers from each groups headed for the huddles, James prowled up and down the sidelines whereas the Crypto.com Enviornment crowd roared.

He put fingers to the aspect of his head to sign that he simply went loopy. Minutes later, he left the court docket whereas followers chanted “M-V-P!”

James scored 50 factors — the second time he’s achieved that in per week, following final Saturday’s 56-point effort towards Golden State.

“I simply really feel actually good,” James stated.

Each got here within the Lakers’ solely two wins because the All-Star break — two magical performances which have helped ease the sting from a slog of a season that might be simply forgettable if it wasn’t so disappointing.

Kuzma’s presence was a reminder of what the Lakers as soon as have been, in distinction to what they’re now.

Should you wished to avert your eyes from the Lakers’ document (29-37) or the inconsistent effort and shoddy execution, the pregame handshake was pretty much as good a reminder as any. Issues actually have modified because the Lakers gained their final title in 2020, the roster turning all the way in which over. Solely three gamers have stayed: James, Talen Horton-Tucker and the injured Anthony Davis. Two others, Avery Bradley and Dwight Howard, left and got here again.

It doesn’t assist that the participant the Lakers obtained for Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope nonetheless is struggling to seek out consistency. Russell Westbrook adopted up a 30-point recreation in Houston with simply 5 towards his outdated group.

Westbrook was simply two for 11 from the sector, followers booing after a missed layup within the first half, although they later cheered when Westbrook moved into eleventh on the NBA’s all-time help leaderboard. He completed with 9 assists and one turnover.

With the gang in a lull, the Lakers’ early nine-point lead lengthy erased, James put them on his again and led a throwback surge, showcasing every bit of his offensive arsenal.

“Laker trustworthy is aware of when dangerous basketball is being performed and when good basketball is being performed,” James stated.

He reminded them of the latter.

He soared for a dunk like he had swiped Ja Morant’s calves. He owned the mid-range like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. And, for good measure, he stepped again to Stephen Curry vary and drilled a deep triple.

All of it got here throughout a 19-point third quarter through which he scored a dozen straight to place the Lakers again in charge of the sport — a win he would seal within the fourth quarter with 14 extra factors, together with a turnaround over Kuzma that rained down from excessive within the air.

The shot was so powerful that every one Kuzma may do after it splashed by the online was take a look at James and chuckle.

“The league’s by no means seen a participant at this stage of his profession doing what he’s doing,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel stated of James. “…It’s simply unbelievable.”

And with James on fireplace, his teammates fed off the power. Horton-Tucker slammed house a dunk on Kuzma, Malik Monk scored 21 on 12 pictures, and Austin Reaves slashed from the corners, the Lakers out-scoring Washington by 20 within the second half.

“It felt good as a result of it was an all-around group effort,” James stated.

Kuzma led the Wizards with 23 factors and Caldwell-Pope was quiet, the Lakers holding him to 4. The Lakers honored the 2 with a video tribute on the first timeout within the first quarter.

“They’ll at all times be household,” Vogel stated earlier than the sport. “We gained a championship collectively.”

Identical to the sport started, it ended with Kuzma and James embracing close to midcourt.

It was, as Vogel stated, “an epic efficiency.”

And it’s a reminder that even with a lot altering, the Lakers nonetheless can rely on James delivering one thing memorable. For one night time, that was adequate.