The LA Lakers gave superstar LeBron James a triumphant season debut, as the team erupted for a season-high 140 points against the Utah Jazz to secure their third straight win.
LeBron James kicked off his historic 23rd NBA season the same way he has built his legacy— delivering a winning performance that further solidified his place among the game’s greatest.
In his long-awaited season debut, James recorded a double-double to help steer the LA Lakers to a third-straight win, a dominant 140-125 dismissal of the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, November 19 (PH time).
After missing the Lakers' first 14 games of the season due to sciatica, the 40-year-old showed no signs of slowing down, posting 11 points and 12 assists.
But James wasn’t done there.
He etched his name further into the record books, surpassing Reggie Miller for sixth place on the NBA’s all-time three-pointers made list.
Co-star Luka Doncic exploded for a team-high 37 points, along with 10 assists, five rebounds, and four steals, while Austin Reaves added 26 points.
A dominant 37-22 third quarter allowed the Lakers to erase an 11-point deficit and take a 104-93 lead heading into the final period.
From there, LA never let up and hiked its record to 11-4 just inside the West top four.
Meanwhile, Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 31 points—his fourth consecutive game scoring 30 or more—while Keyonte George added 29.
Despite their individual performances, Utah continues to struggle on the road, dropping to 1-6 in away games and 5-9 overall.
In just five days, the teams will meet again, this time in Salt Lake City, as the Jazz welcome the Lakers for another highly anticipated matchup.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.