LeBron James achieved one other milestone in NBA historical past Tuesday, turning into the primary participant to surpass the 39,000-point mark because the Los Angeles Lakers dominated the Utah Jazz to advance to the knockout stage of the league’s new in-season event.
The 38-year-old, requiring simply 5 factors to succeed in this milestone earlier than the sport, etched his title into the document books with a three-pointer within the first quarter of the Lakers’ 131-99 victory.
James, who surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar final season to develop into the NBA’s all-time main scorer, acknowledged the group as his achievement was introduced.
“I haven’t really had an opportunity to wrap my head around what it means,” James mentioned of his newest scoring milestone. “There have been so many great players in this league since the beginning of time, and so many great scorers. To be able to be the first of anything is always pretty cool. A wild moment, for sure.”
James’ landmark set the temper for a celebratory event at Crypto.com Arena because the Lakers secured a wire-to-wire win, advancing to the quarterfinals of the in-season event.
James concluded with 17 factors from 6-of-10 capturing, whereas Anthony Davis led the Lakers’ scorers with 26 factors, 16 rebounds, and 4 assists.
In one other notable achievement, Kevin Durant climbed to eleventh place on the NBA’s profession scoring record throughout Phoenix’s 120-107 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Durant wanted 14 factors to surpass Elvin Hayes on the scoring charts and achieved this in a free-scoring first quarter, ending the sport with 31 factors and bringing his profession tally to 27,331 factors.
In different event motion, the Indiana Pacers defeated the Atlanta Hawks 157-152 in a high-scoring shootout to safe a spot within the knockout phases.
Tyrese Haliburton scored 22 of his 37 factors within the third quarter, main the Pacers to erase a 20-point first-half deficit. Buddy Hield contributed 24 factors, together with essential buckets down the stretch, securing the victory for the Pacers.
“It’s good to clinch,” Haliburton, who additionally recorded 16 assists, mentioned after the Pacers improved to 3-0 in event play and secured a primary place in East’s Group A. “Buddy won us the game down the stretch; a lot of big buckets.”
The quarterfinals are scheduled for Dec. 4-5, with winners advancing to the semifinals on Dec. 7 and a championship match on Dec. 9 in Las Vegas.
In a tightly contested end in Philadelphia, Darius Garland scored 32 factors to steer the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 122-119 extra time victory towards the 76ers. The win saved the Cavs’ hopes alive for advancing within the event by way of a wild card berth.
Jarrett Allen contributed 26 factors and 13 rebounds, whereas Max Strus made 5 three-pointers on the best way to twenty factors for the Cavs, who performed with out injured Donovan Mitchell and Caris LeVert.
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid scored 32 factors and grabbed 13 rebounds, and Tyrese Maxey added 30 factors for Philadelphia, however the 76ers have been eradicated from event competition.
Source: www.dailysabah.com