Inspired perhaps by Kemba Walker springing for 60 on Saturday, LeBron pulled out his bag and scored 51 in a triumphant return to Miami on Sunday. It was LeBron’s first 50-spot in a year, and the Lakers’ first game with a player scoring 50 since ... yep, that time Kobe took 50 shots in his final NBA game.
LeBron brought his talents back to South Beach
We have that and more in Monday’s NBA newsletter.
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The Lakers kind of needed all 51 to beat the Heat (despite a double-digit margin), because the rest of L.A. had shooting trouble, which is to be expected against a smart defensive team like Miami. LeBron frustrated everyone with a series of fadeaways and stepbacks, as he is wont to do at certain moments when he wants to remind everyone he’s more than head-down drives to the rim. (The Raptors know.)
It was a big win for the Lakers if only because they dropped a game in Orlando on Saturday, and losing a Florida back-to-back with the Florida teams in their current state would be a real indictment. (It would have dropped them to .500, as well.)
As it stands, the Lakers sit in the No. 7 spot in the West, with 12 teams within three games of the No. 1 seed. There’s very little separation here, so L.A. needs to keep plugging along, winning winnable games and avoiding major damage while the schedule shakes out. The Lakers have a fairly accommodating schedule coming up -- the tough opponents are beatable if L.A. is actually good. If L.A. isn’t good, well ... we’ll find out soon enough.
LeBron, though? Oh he’s good.
Scores
Grizzlies 100, Timberwolves 87
Lakers 113, Heat 97
Knicks 117, Magic 131
Blazers 119, Wizards 109
Warriors 92, Spurs 104
Schedule
NBA TV Doubleheader:
Suns at Sixers, 7 p.m. ET
Thunder at Kings 10 p.m. ET
Selections from League Pass:
Celtics at Hornets, 7 p.m. ET
Jazz at Pacers, 7 p.m. ET
Nuggets at Bucks, 8 p.m. ET
Spurs at Pelicans, 8 p.m. ET
Links
I wrote about how the Clippers are real, one way or another.
The Warriors lost again! The Spurs had every opportunity to buckle under the pressure from Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson and just refused. San Antonio is 8-7.
The three ways Kemba Walker cooked the Sixers (in a loss). How did the Hornets lose that game? Ask Jimmy Butler, who had both the game-saving block and the game-winning shot. Crazy, crazy game.
Rajon Rondo is back with the Lakers after hand surgery, but he won’t play for a month or so. Luke Walton has allowed him to join the coaches’ huddle, with one rule: He has to shut the f--k up.
Look, I don’t want to say I told you so, but I am a credible source when it comes to measuring the amount of misery that franchise can deliver to you. Believe me.
Warriors franchise owner Joe Lacob insists that the team isn’t choosing anybody over anybody in stepping into the Kevin Durant-Draymond Green fight.
Go figure: Mo Williams is now coaching in ... Los Angeles. You think he ever runs into Lonzo Ball at the grocery store?
Seven potential NBA homes for Carmelo Anthony. A case that he should rejoin the Knicks to help them achieve their destiny.
Be excellent to each other.
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