Los Angeles Lakers v Phoenix Suns
Venue: Footprint Heart, Phoenix Date: Sunday, 25 February Tip-off: 20:30 GMT
Protection: Watch stay on BBC Three, the BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport web site and app
LeBron James scored 30 factors on his return for the Los Angeles Lakers at they received 123-118 at dwelling to the San Antonio Spurs.
The Denver Nuggets, the NBA’s defending champions, received once more on the Portland Path Blazers whereas Tyrese Maxey scored 24 factors because the Philadelphia 76ers received 104-97 on the Cleveland Cavaliers in a sport proven stay on the BBC.
And Miami Warmth star Jimmy Butler was one in all 4 gamers to be ejected following a melee throughout their 106-95 win on the New Orleans Pelicans.
Butler scored 23 factors earlier than being despatched to the locker room within the fourth quarter, together with Miami reserve Thomas Bryant and Pelicans gamers Jose Alvarado and Naji Marshall.
Bam Adebayo had 24 factors as Miami improved to a 31-25 report to affix the Orlando Magic atop the Jap Convention Southeast division.
James added 9 assists and 7 rebounds for the Lakers after lacking their previous two video games to relaxation a sore ankle, though the performed within the All-Star Sport in between.
Anthony Davis added 28 factors and 13 rebounds because the Lakers improved to 31-27, whereas Victor Wembanyama had 27 factors, 10 rebounds and eight assists and added 5 blocked pictures and 5 steals.
That made final yr’s primary draft choose the youngest participant in NBA historical past to realize the uncommon ‘5×5’ statistical efficiency – together with at the very least 5 factors, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals in the identical sport.
“He does not have a ceiling,” James mentioned of the French rookie. “He can do no matter he desires to do in his profession. I mentioned a very long time in the past how particular he was, and it is actually that straightforward.”
The Cavaliers at the moment are 36-19 atop the Jap Convention Central division after struggling their second straight loss and third in 4 video games on the street in opposition to the 76ers.
Nikola Jokic had 29 factors, 15 rebounds and 14 assists for his seventeenth triple-double of the season because the Nuggets beat the Path Blazers to go 38-19.
Divisional rivals the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder are the one groups with extra wins within the Western Convention.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 33 factors and 13 rebounds to assist the Milwaukee Bucks come out of the All-Star break with a 112-107 win at Minnesota, who’re 39-17 with Oklahoma Metropolis after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 factors of their 147-106 rout of the lowly Washington Wizards.
Stephen Curry scored 15 factors because the Golden State Warriors claimed a 97-84 win at dwelling to the Charlotte Hornets, who featured his youthful brother Seth, whereas Kevin Durant’s 28 factors weren’t sufficient for the Phoenix Suns as they misplaced 114-110 on the Houston Rockets.
