LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers came out on top 100-95 at the Crypto.com Arena against Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns in the first match that the two All-Stars have faced each other in five years, since Christmas 2018.
James scored 21 points for the second game in a row, along with eight rebounds, nine assists and two blocks. The 19-time All-Star scored ten of his total points in the fourth quarter, in which he played every single minute to help his team to victory.
Congrats to @KDTrey5 of the @Suns for moving to 12th on the all-time scoring list! pic.twitter.com/FN5yxmzckE
— NBA (@NBA) October 27, 2023
The 38-year-old led the Lakers’ fourth quarter rally, having been down 12 points entering the final round, as they got the win in their home opener and bounced back from the opening day defeat to the Denver Nuggets.
“We’ve had so many battles, (and) we don’t have many matchups left,” James said of Durant after the game. “Not sure how many we have left, so you don’t ever want to take it for granted when you’re out there with such a great player, one of the best to ever play this game. It’s always a treat. It’s fun.”
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer was not alone in the Lakers’ win on Thursday night, as eight-time All-Star Anthony finished with a team-high 30 points and 12 rebounds, as well as managing three steals and three blocks in 39 minutes in what was a dominant performance for the big figure.
Durant led all scorers with a game-high 39 points along with 11 boards for the short-handed Suns team that was without Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.
The 35-year-old, who moved to 12th on the all-time scoring list in the NBA by surpassing the great Hakeem Olajuwon, finished with his second double-double of the season after his impressive homecoming performance against the Golden State Warriors.
Congrats to @KDTrey5 of the @Suns for moving to 12th on the all-time scoring list! pic.twitter.com/FN5yxmzckE
— NBA (@NBA) October 27, 2023
Durant praised James for his professionalism all these years and added that he relishes playing against the best players in the league. He said: “Someone you just compare yourself to.”
“If you could accomplish and achieve some of the stuff that he’s done, you’re doing pretty solid for yourself. It’s just a baseline for yourself as a player to see how great you can be.
“It was tough,” Durant added. “He was pretty much coaching the team on how to guard certain actions. That’s what he’s been doing his whole career. … It’s always a battle playing against high-IQ players like that.”
Former LA Clippers and Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon was next in scoring for the Suns with 15 points, while D’Tigers forward Josh Okogie, starting his second consecutive game, added 10 points and 8 rebounds.
