In distinguished company James, Ball join OTHER RESULTS Magic, Kareem in Lakers folklore
LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Lonzo Ball joined LeBron James in elite territory Saturday as their twin triple-doubles lifted the Los Angeles Lakers to a 128100 NBA victory over the Hornets in Charlotte.
James, a four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, scored 24 points with 11 assists and 12 rebounds and Ball, the second overall selection in the 2017 draft, added 16 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds.
It was the first time two NBA teammates posted triple-doubles in the same game since Jason Kidd and Vince Carter did it for the Nets in 2007.
James and Ball became the only Lakers teammates to do it besides Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1982.
''We just tried to do a little bit of everything to help our team win,'' James said. ''Try to put the ball in the hole, rebound so we could start the break and then get our guys the ball.
''That's the most important to both of us,'' James added, ''getting our guys involved. It's a great feeling when you're able to get the ball to a teammate and see them make a shot.''
Both James and Ball had completed their triple-doubles with plenty of margin. After helping the Lakers outscore the Hornets 40-17 in the third quarter James sat out all of the fourth quarter and Ball played just five min- Orlando 96, Utah 89 Detroit 113, Boston 104 Houston 105, Memphis 97 Chicago 98, San Antonio 93 Oklahoma City 110, L.A. Clippers 104 Phoenix 107, Minnesota 99
utes of the final period.
Ball added five steals as the Lakers came back with a vengeance from a 126-111 loss to the Houston Rockets on Thursday.
''It was a good win,'' Ball said. ''We didn't want to lose two in a row. We came out strong ... got it done.''