Los Angeles (AFP)
“King” LeBron James returned, after missing 5 games due to injury, and achieved “Triple Double” to lead the Los Angeles Lakers, to return from afar, and win 122-115 over the New York Knicks, after extension, in the NBA competitions.
James, who was absent from action, due to a swelling in his left knee, scored 29 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, to make the Lakers his biggest comeback this season, after falling behind to 21 points in the first half and 15 at the break.
LeBron said: “It is great to be on the field with my teammates and help them offensively and defensively and give everything I have. The victory was good for us.”
The Lakers advanced for the first time in the game late in the third quarter and entered the fourth, leading 87-84, expanding the difference to nine points, but a triple from RJ Barrett 8.1 seconds before the end equalized the numbers 111-111, while LeBron failed from behind the arc In the last second to resort to the two teams to extend.
The Lakers dominated overtime and James opened it with a superb thumping basket after teammate Talyn Horton-Tucker grabbed the ball from the opponent, and the Knicks were satisfied with four points in the extension scored by Julius Randle.
Barrett was the Knicks’ best scorer with 36 points, the highest in his career.
The Knicks fell to twelfth place in the Eastern Province, while the Lakers ninth in the Western Region, one of the qualifying positions for the playoff matches, hoping to snatch a position that qualifies them directly to the playoffs.
In another match, the league leaders Phoenix Dunns returned to victories with a 95-80 victory over the Washington Wizards, after a loss against the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday that ended a series of 11 consecutive victories.