Lakers breaking records - LeBron crossed the border of 50,000

When LeBron James scored his first career points with a mid-range shot against the Sacramento Kings on October 29, 2003, no one could have imagined that nearly 22 years later, he would reach the milestone of 50,000 points, combining both regular season and playoff performances.

LeBron has long been the all-time leading scorer in the regular season, and he has also held the top spot in playoff scoring since 2017. With tonight's 34-point performance, his combined total has now reached 50,033 points. He surpassed the magical 50,000-point mark in the Los Angeles Lakers' 136-115 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.

The King opened the game by hitting a three-pointer off an assist from Luka Doncic, prompting yet another standing ovation from the crowd, who once again paid tribute to the legendary James.

After making history, LeBron passed the leadership role to Luka, who gladly embraced it. The Slovenian guard responded by knocking down three consecutive three-pointers and even celebrated with a little dance, while the Lakers built a double-digit lead by the end of the first quarter.

The Pelicans showed resilience in the second quarter, proving they didn’t come to the Crypto.com Arena just to watch, with Zion Williamson leading the charge. However, their efforts ultimately fell apart in the third quarter.

Lakers continued to hit their shots with ease, Doncic orchestrated the offense effortlessly, and even scored a layup to extend the lead to 20 points. The final moments of the third quarter were marred by unnecessary tension on both sides, as Bruce Brown committed a hard foul on Dalton Knecht, leading to a brief scuffle. The Lakers closed the quarter with a LeBron three-pointer, giving them an 18-point lead heading into the final period.

James started the fourth quarter with five consecutive points, while Knecht followed his lead, keeping the Pelicans at bay. In the closing minutes, Bronny James got a chance to take the floor, contributing two points, one rebound, and one turnover in just over three minutes of play. Aside from LeBron’s 34-point performance, Doncic also stood out with 30 points and 15 assists. Jaxson Hayes added a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

For the Pelicans, Zion Williamson was outstanding with 37 points, Trey Murphy contributed 19, and Jordan Hawkins finished with 17.

With this victory, the Lakers solidified their hold on second place in the Western Conference, but a tough schedule lies ahead. Meanwhile, the Pelicans remain in second-to-last place in the West, with a record of 17 wins and 45 losses.

NBA - LAST NIGHT RESULTS

Pacers - Rockets 115 - 102

Magic - Raptors 113 - 114

Hawks - Bucks 121 - 127

Knicks - Warriors 102 - 114

Bulls - Cavaliers 117 - 139

Timberwolves - 76ers 126 - 112

Spurs - Nets 127 - 113

Suns - Clippers 119 - 117

Lakers - Pelicans 136 - 115