LeBron James etched his name further into the NBA history books on Thursday night as he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the league’s all-time leader in regular-season minutes played. The milestone came during a 113-100 victory for the Los Angeles Lakers over the Sacramento Kings, where James contributed 19 points, six rebounds, and seven assists. His 34 minutes on the court pushed his career total to 57,471 minutes, surpassing Abdul-Jabbar’s previous record of 57,446.
Anthony Davis played a dominant role in the win, recording a massive 21 points and 20 rebounds, while Austin Reaves added 25 points. D’Angelo Russell also provided solid support with 16 points, and the Lakers (15-12) took their third win in four games. The victory came despite a spirited challenge from the Kings, who had cut the deficit to just 93-90 with eight minutes remaining after a clutch jumper from De’Aaron Fox.
Fox, who finished with 26 points, five assists, and three steals, had been a key figure in Sacramento’s attempts to rally, but his performance was hampered after he picked up his fifth foul with just under seven minutes left in the game. Forced to the bench, Fox was limited to just 11 minutes of play in the final stretch, which allowed the Lakers to regain control. Reaves’ timely bank shot and two crucial free throws from Davis helped spark a 10-2 run, putting the game out of reach.
The game also featured a concerning moment for Davis, who took a hard fall in the fourth quarter. Despite limping off the court briefly, he returned to finish the game, immediately making a critical defensive stop that was vital for the Lakers’ success. Let’s grade the Lakers players for their impressive performances tonight.Â
Anthony Davis: A+
Stats: 21 PTS, 20 REB (8 OREB), 4 AST, 3 STL, 6 BLK, 4 TO, 0 PF, 7-20 FG, 0-1 3PT, 7-9 FT, +19, 35 MIN
Anthony Davis was the undeniable force in the Lakers’ victory, dominating the paint on both ends. He posted an impressive 21 points, 20 rebounds (8 offensive), 4 assists, 3 steals, and 6 blocks. His all-around performance not only contributed to the team’s success but also kept the Kings at bay when they mounted a late comeback. Despite shooting under 35% from the field, his impact in key moments—especially defensively—was invaluable, earning him an A+ grade.
Austin Reaves: A
Stats: 25 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST, 3 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 7-14 FG, 3-7 3PT, 8-9 FT, +9, 35 MIN
Austin Reaves was electric in the game, scoring a career-high 35 points while adding 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. His shooting was efficient, finishing with 7-14 from the field and 3-7 from three. Reaves stepped up in critical moments, including timely baskets and clutch free throws, helping the Lakers maintain their lead in the closing minutes. His stellar offensive performance makes him deserving of an A grade.
LeBron James: B+
Stats: 19 PTS, 6 REB, 7 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 1 PF, 8-21 FG, 1-4 3PT, 2-2 FT, +13, 34 MIN
LeBron James had a solid all-around performance, recording 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists while surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most minutes played in NBA history. Although his shooting was a bit off (8-21 FG), LeBron’s leadership and playmaking were crucial, especially in keeping the Lakers’ offense flowing. He did enough to help secure the victory and maintain control of the game, earning a B+ grade for his contributions.
D’Angelo Russell: B
Stats: 16 PTS, 6 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 7-15 FG, 2-6 3PT, 0-0 FT, +1, 23 MIN
D’Angelo Russell contributed effectively to the Lakers’ offense with 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist. His shooting was decent, going 7-15 from the field and 2-6 from beyond the arc. Russell didn’t necessarily take over the game but played a solid, efficient role in keeping the team moving offensively, especially with a strong performance in the second half. His steadiness on the floor was key to the Lakers’ win, warranting a B grade.
Gabe Vincent: B
Stats: 12 PTS, 5 REB (2 OREB), 3 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 4 PF, 4-5 FG, 4-5 3PT, 0-0 FT, +4, 22 MIN
Gabe Vincent had a strong outing off the bench with 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists in just 22 minutes of play. He shot a perfect 4-5 from the field and 4-5 from three, providing a significant spark for the Lakers’ offense. His efficient shooting and contributions in key moments helped to extend the Lakers’ lead, making him a crucial factor in the team’s success, deserving of a B grade.
Rui Hachimura: C+
Stats:Â 10 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 4 TO, 1 PF, 3-9 FG, 1-4 3PT, 3-4 FT, +21, 37 MIN
Rui Hachimura had a decent game with 10 points and 5 rebounds, but his shooting efficiency was lacking, finishing 3-9 from the field and 1-4 from three. While he contributed defensively and helped space the floor, his offensive inconsistencies made it a mixed performance. He did enough to be a part of the team’s success but could have provided more if he had been more efficient, resulting in a C+ grade.
Max Christie: C+
Stats:Â 8 PTS, 4 REB (3 OREB), 0 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 1-3 FG, 1-3 3PT, 5-6 FT, +17, 28 MIN
Max Christie contributed 8 points and 4 rebounds off the bench, but his shooting was also a bit inefficient, finishing 1-3 from the field and 1-3 from three. While he provided some energy and made an impact in certain moments, his play was quiet compared to others. Nonetheless, he contributed in his minutes and helped out on both ends, earning a C+ grade for his efforts.
Cam Reddish: C
Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 4 PF, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, -9, 11 MIN
Cam Reddish had a rough outing, not scoring a point in his 11 minutes on the court. He went 0-1 from the field and struggled to make an impact on either end. He finished with 0 rebounds, 0 assists, and 0 steals, and had 4 fouls, which limited his effectiveness. While Reddish’s minutes were short, his performance didn’t provide much to help the team, earning him a C grade.
Dalton Knecht: N/A
Stats:Â 2 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 1-4 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-0 FT, -4, 10 MIN
Dalton Knecht played 10 minutes, contributing 2 points and 1 rebound. His impact was limited, as he went 1-4 from the field and 0-2 from three. While he didn’t have enough of an impact to warrant a full grade, his minimal contributions meant he didn’t significantly alter the flow of the game, so he’s marked as N/A for this performance.
Christian Koloko: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 0-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -6, 4 MIN
Christian Koloko played a minimal role in the game, contributing only 1 rebound and 1 block in 4 minutes of action. He didn’t score and only had a limited impact on either end of the floor. While he was effective in his brief stint defensively, his lack of involvement offensively and the overall small sample size means he gets an N/A.
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