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Atlanta (United States) (AFP) – The American star LeBron James, of the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo, of the Milwaukee Bucks, lit the court on Friday in the NBA with brilliant performances.
LeBron celebrated his 38th birthday with a whopping 47 points, his season-high, along with 10 rebounds and nine assists to propel the LA Lakers to a 130-121 victory against the Atlanta Hawks.
It was his first 40-point effort of the season and the 70th 40-plus performance of his spectacular 20-season NBA career.
Even more surprising, he was congratulated by his teammates for saying before the game that he would give a 40-point thrashing for his birthday against the Hawks.
“I told him,” LeBron recalled. “I told him before the game. I had to make it happen. After starting 1 for 5, I didn’t know if it was going to happen.”
“I didn’t even know it was three (games) in four nights. I just knew I had to get my mind and body ready to go,” LeBron said, referring to the Lakers’ backlog of games this week.
“Making sure my body stayed cool, but first of all my mind,” he added.
The Hawks, powered by 29 points from Trae Young, led by as many as 15 points in the first half before LeBron helped the Lakers, scoring 16 points in the second quarter and 13 in the third, which the Californians finished with a 2-point lead. 98-95.
LeBron added 16 points in the fourth quarter to hold Atlanta at bay, driving down the lane and unstoppable shooting.
The only birthday contest in which LeBron scored more points was when he had 48 against Atlanta in 2009.
LeBron is on track to become the NBA’s all-time scoring leader in February.
The Lakers were without their other big star Anthony Davis, out with a foot injury.
Having his wife, mother and many other relatives and friends watching helped turn LeBron on, the superstar said.
“It’s a delight,” he said. “Having them here and supporting me along the way, on my birthday, is very important to me because they are the rock of everything I do, my mom, my wife and my family.”
Giannis also excels
In Milwaukee, Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 43 points and grabbed 20 rebounds to lead the Bucks over the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves 123-114.
The Bucks snapped a four-game losing streak, while the Timberwolves saw their losing streak stretch to five games.
Zach LaVine scored 43 points on 15-of-20 shooting to fuel the Chicago Bulls’ 132-118 home win over the Detroit Pistons.
Gary Trent Jr. scored 35 points to lead the Toronto Raptors over the Phoenix Suns 113-104 and snap a five-game losing streak at home.
Latvian forward Kristaps Porzingis had game-high 30 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Washington Wizards to a 119-100 win over the Orlando Magics.
Japanese reserve Rui Hachimura added 16 points and seven rebounds for Washington. The German Franz Wagner was the highlight of Orlando with 28 points and eight assists, the most of the game.
– Results of Friday in the NBA:
Washington a Orlando 119-100
LA Lakers beat Atlanta 130-121
Toronto a Phoenix 113-104
Chicago and Detroit 132-118
Milwaukee at Minnesota 123-114
New Orleans a Philadelphia 127-116
Denver a Miami 124-119
Golden State a Portland 118-112
Sacramento at Utah 126-125
© 2022 AFP