ATLANTA – LeBron James started this journey 20 years ago, and there are times when he still feels like a kid on the basketball court.
Friday was one of those nights.
James scored a season-high 47 points on his 38th birthday, with many of the sold-out crowd at State Farm Arena cheering his every move, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Atlanta Hawks 130-121.
“By the time I was 18, I knew how to play the game,” he said. “I knew I belonged in the NBA, but I didn’t know what I could be when I was 18. But I knew if I was going to keep working and I got further into the game then I could be one of the greatest players to ever play that game.”
James, a four-time NBA MVP and 18-time All-Star, finished the tournament with 10 rebounds and nine assists. He had 16 points in the second quarter, 13 in the third and 16 in the fourth. James started the game ninth in the league with 27.8 points per game.
The Hawks (17-19), who have lost three straight games, gambled away a 15-point lead but regained a 101-100 lead over Aaron Holiday’s 3-pointers with 10:50 remaining. James hit a 3 from the right wing to make it 103-101 and Los Angeles were never behind again.
James dumped his mother, Gloria, and wife, Savannah, at court on his birthday.
“They were with me before this 20-year campaign began,” he said. “You are the rock for everything I do. To have her there tonight, sitting in the seat and just being a part of this journey, being here for my birthday, being here for the holidays is pretty cool.”
The Lakers had lost nine of their last 13 but led 120-113 on James’ three-point game with 2:18 to go. Much of the crowd roared to their feet as he pulled John Collins sixth foul and fell while hitting a layup at the baseline. He hit the free throw and came back on the next possession with a reverse layup at the baseline that got the crowd back on their feet.
James added two free throws to level it at 130-121 as the crowd chanted, “MVP! MVP!”
“Atlanta has always been friendly and welcoming to me and my teammates no matter what uniform I was in,” James said. “They have always respected the game.”
Thomas Bryant had 19 points and a season-high 17 rebounds, and Russell Westbrook had 14 points and 11 assists.
Trae Young led the Hawks with 29 points and Dejounte Murray had 20. Young said James’ defense changed the game.
“Most of the time, LeBron was in back quarterback telling everyone where to go,” Young said. “He was at the back in the color that was on our 5s and our 4s and had us shooting 3s and making competitive jump shots. It worked early on and as the game progressed it kind of turned us on. That happened. ”
Trailing 15 in the second quarter, Los Angeles took an 82-81 lead late in the third quarter when James threw a fast break. The Lakers were in the middle of a 17-4 run that ended with James’ three-point game and an 87-83 lead.
“He was just locked up,” Westbrook said. “He’s capable of doing things at an elite level for a long time, as everyone knows. It’s just good to experience that.”
James gave a television interview and signed his jersey for rapper 2 Chainz before walking off the pitch to another standing ovation.
“For me, it’s all about getting the mind ready and working every day,” said James, a four-time NBA champion Seasons have so many narratives and rollercoasters to navigate.
“The frustrations, the good times, the bad times, so I’m just trying to stay as balanced and sharp as possible over the course of an entire season.”
TIP INS
Lakers: James’ high for the season so far was 39 points on Nov. 26 in San Antonio. … Coach Darvin Ham said that Anthony Davis is “heading in the right direction” with his stress injury to his right foot and that “the pain is all but gone.” Davis, who has been sidelined for two weeks, told reporters ahead of the game that he was “feeling a lot better” and that “the pain has subsided tremendously.” Davis is not expected back until the second week of January.
Hawks: Clint Capela (bruised right calf) was out for the sixth time in seven games. Onyeka Okongwu started again in his place and had 17 points. … De’Andre Hunter (left ankle sprain) missed his third straight game. … The NBA has fined Bogdan Bogdanovic $25,000 for kicking a ball in the stands after Wednesday’s 108-107 home loss to Brooklyn.
NEXT
Lakers: Monday in Charlotte.
Hawks: Monday at the Golden State.
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