LeBron James started up his journey for his second NBA championship in as many years in stunning fashion. James nearly put together a triple-double in the 34 minutes he played, finishing with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. The Milwaukee Bucks had no answer for James as he barreled into the paint and missed only two of his field goals. He took only 11 field goals on his way to the 27 points he scored, a deadly-efficient game from Miami's superstar. James shot 81 percent from the field while coming up just two assists short of a triple-double.
LeBron James’ stats: Heat star deadly-efficient vs. Bucks
LeBron James was brilliant in the Heat’s opening game of the playoffs, but how good was he? Only two other players have achieved his stat line since 1985.
James took only two 3-point field goal attempts, using his trips to the charity stripe to serve as an efficient boost to his scoring total. James was 8-for-11 from the free throw line.
It wasn’t just his scoring though, it was James having a team-high 10 rebounds to go with it as he outworked his opponents and teammates alike. It was his eight assists, the zippy passes he carved the Bucks’ defense with, and the court-vision he displayed for the basketball world. It was the field goals he didn’t take more so than the field goals he did make.
More on the Heat: Hot Hot Hoops
In fact, to find the last time a player had at least 27 points on only 11 field goal attempts, at least 10 rebounds, and at least eight assists, you'd have to go back to 1997, where Anthony Mason completed this task. There is only one other player in NBA history to complete this stat line since 1985, and he did it twice: Doc Rivers.
A big night from James, and with that level of play, he’ll have plenty of opportunities to top it.
- Statistical data referenced from Basketball-Reference.com
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