NBA: LeBron's 47 points on 38th birthday spark Lakers to win over Hawks
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James is defended by Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray in the second half at State Farm Arena.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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ATLANTA – LeBron James celebrated his 38th birthday on Friday by scoring a season-high 47 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and adding nine assists to spark the Los Angeles Lakers to a 130-121 National Basketball Association victory in Atlanta.
It was his first 40-point effort of the campaign, the second achieved in a birthday contest and the 70th 40-point performance of his spectacular 20-season NBA career.
Even more amazing, teammates were congratulating him for saying before the game that he would deliver a 40-point birthday beatdown against the Hawks.
“I called it,” James said. “I told them before the game. I had to make it happen. After starting one-for-five, I didn’t know if it was going to happen.”
James, playing his third game in four nights, actually began shooting one-for-six but finished 18-of-27 from the floor, four-of-six from three-point range and seven-of-nine from the free-throw line.
“I didn’t even know it was three in four nights,” he said.
“I just knew I had to get my mind and body ready to go.
“Make sure my body stays fresh but my mind, more importantly.”
The Hawks, powered by 29 points from Trae Young, led by as many as 15 points in the first half before James rallied the Lakers.
James scored 16 points in the second quarter and 13 in the third as the Lakers led 98-95 after three quarters.
He added 16 points in the fourth quarter to hold off Atlanta, driving the lane and sinking fall-away jumpers in unstoppable fashion.
The only birthday contest in which James scored more points was when he struck for 48 points in 2009, also against Atlanta.
The forward is on track to overtake Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 38,387 points to become the NBA’s all-time scoring leader in February.
Having his wife, mother and many other relatives and friends watching helped ignite his game, he added.
“It’s a treat,” James said.
“To have them here and support me on the road, on my birthday, is very important to me because they are the rock of everything I do, my mom and my wife and my family.”
Elsewhere, Greek star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 43 points and grabbed 20 rebounds to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 123-114 win over visiting Minnesota.
The Bucks snapped a four-game losing streak while the Timberwolves have now lost their last five games.
Zach LaVine scored 43 points on 15-of-20 shooting to spark Chicago’s 132-118 home victory over NBA doormat Detroit.
Gary Trent Jr scored 35 points to lead Toronto over Phoenix 113-104, the Raptors snapping a five-game home losing streak.
Latvian forward Kristaps Porzingis had game-highs of 30 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Washington Wizards to a 119-100 triumph at Orlando. AFP
