LeBron James has won the first game since scoring in the world’s top basketball league with the Los Angeles Lakers.
After the last three games break due to problems with his foot, the NBA superstar scored 21 points in the 120:102 against the New Orleans Pelicans and now has a total of 38,411 points in his career. Best pitcher was Anthony Davis with 28 points.
The Lakers played in the match, which is important for the playoff hopes, for the first time with the supposed best line-up since signing numerous new players at the end of the transfer window. German national team captain Dennis Schröder started on the bench in the last game before the All-Star break and had 10 points in 20 minutes on the field.
At the top of the Western Conference, the Denver Nuggets clinched a 118-109 win against the Dallas Mavericks, who were missing new signing Kyrie Irving with a back problem. Luka Doncic’s 37 points were not enough for the Mavericks against the league leaders. His pursuer Memphis Grizzlies recorded a 117:111 against the Utah Jazz and secured second place.
Celtics defend top spot
In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics won 127-109 against the Detroit Pistons after losing to the Milwaukee Bucks and defended their top spot. Jayson Tatum scored 37 points for the NBA record champion. In the chasing duel between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Cleveland Cavaliers, the 76ers prevailed 118:112 and secured third place. The Cavaliers had previously won seven games in a row.
The fifth-placed Brooklyn Nets beat the Miami Heat 116-105, while new signing Mikael Bridges impressed with the Nets with a career-best 45 points. In the 122:101 of the New York Knicks against the Atlanta Hawks, Isaiah Hartenstein had six points and eleven rebounds for the Knicks.
