LOS ANGELES — Joining Michael Jordan as the only other 40-year-old to score 40 points in the Lakers 120-112 win over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday, LeBron James only had this to say about the feat: "That I'm old...that's what I think."
James is now the youngest at 19 years and 88 days old and the oldest at 40 years and 38 days in NBA history to score 40 or more points.
In his 18th game since turning 40, James, who finished with a season-high 42 points, also notched his season-best 17 rebounds for the Lakers. The rebounding department was one that needed a boost with recently acquired center trade Mark Williams from the Hornets on Wednesday yet to join the team—an area they're thin at in the frontcourt.
James was a big part of the Lakers early momentum and strong start. At the top of the second quarter, James went on a heater sequence from 3-point range, hitting three straight 3-pointers, each further from the one before and the final one being from the Lakers center court logo.
This led to an 'ice in my viens' celly and crown gestures given from teammates Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes, who each finished with 11 points.
Three straight 3’s from LeBron and the #Lakers lead 45-23. pic.twitter.com/RsF5TLIP85
— Carlos Yakimowich (@CarlosYakNBA) February 7, 2025
The Lakers would reach their biggest lead (26) of the game in the quarter as a 46.6% (10-for-22) shooting from three and 56% overall gave them a 20-point halftime lead. James would hit his first five shots from deep, the solar opposite of the NBA's all-time leader in 3-point shooting Stephen Curry, who started 0-for-5 from 3-point range.
Golden State would shoot just 28.6% (8-for-28) from behind the arc at the half, a huge part in their first half mishaps.
The second half is when Golden State would turn up their physicality as the game got chippier because of it, with Jarred Vanderbilt and Warriors Kevon Looney getting into it fighting for position.
"We want to compete; we want to be physical from the jump, and we try to just match that [physicality]," Austin Reaves said, who finished with 23 points on four-for-17 shooting, which he agreed was not good.
Vanderbilt, who looked his best since coming back from nearly a year off from injury, flashed a noticable energy with his only two buckets coming on putbacks for second-chance points for L.A. In 20 minutes, he finished with 14 rebounds (his season-high), five points, and three assists.
"I feel like each game I've been getting better," Vanderbilt said. "I know its a process. I missed a whole year of basketball. I just try not to put to much pressure on myself, and each game, take it game by game."
The Warriors would jump out to outscore L.A. 10-2 in the third quarter, but from then on, the Lakers would match their physicality as the game got closer.
The Warriors would get as close as six points in the final four minutes as Curry did his best act, trying to knock down as many threes as possible to stay in the contest. He finished with 34 points on six-for-20 shooting from 3-point range.
A technical foul with 33 seconds left on Draymond Green (13 points, five rebounds) at the free throw line would seal the Warriors fate down 118-109, pushing the Lakers to their eighth win in the last nine games as they still sit fifth in the West with a 30-19 record.
Next Game
The Lakers next matchup is Saturday (1 p.m.) against the Pacers and will not be a targeted date for Luka Dončić to make his debut with head coach JJ Redick; "more likely Monday" would be his first one in L.A.
We could also see recent trade acquisition Williams make his debut for L.A. on Monday after trading for him from the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night.
