James tops ex-teammate Wade in likely last on-court meeting
LeBron James scored 28 points and the Lakers survived Dwyane Wade’s 15-point performance in the second half of the former teammates’ probable final on-court meeting for a 108-105 victory over the Heat in Los Angeles on Monday night.
The game ended with James guarding Wade, who missed a difficult three-point attempt in the waning seconds. After the buzzer sounded, they shared a hug and a chat to close perhaps the final joint chapter of two careers that have intersected repeatedly since they entered the NBA together in 2003.
Wade and James got together with the Heat in 2010 to win two championships and reach four consecutive NBA Finals, and they spent half of last season together in Cleveland.
Wade intends to retire after this season, and Staples Center sent him out of Los Angeles in style with multiple standing ovations and a tribute video.
James and Wade both missed big shots down the stretch, but James hit two free throws with 22.5 seconds left to stretch the Lakers’ lead to three points.
Kyle Kuzma scored 33 points for the Lakers.
Justise Winslow scored a career-high 28 points for Miami, hitting six three-pointers. Kings 108, Bulls 89: De’Aaron Fox scored 23 points in the second half, helping Sacramento rally to close out a 3-1 road trip. Chicago led by as many as 14 in its ninth loss in 10 games. Clippers 123, Suns 119: Tobias Harris scored 33 points and Patrick Beverley made two free throws with 33.3 seconds left in overtime, sending Los Angeles to a road win. Deandre Ayton had 20 points and 12 rebounds for Phoenix, which lost its ninth straight. Nuggets 105, Grizzlies 99: Nikola Jokic had 27 points and 12 rebounds for host Denver in a tightly contested game that featured 15 lead changes. Despite a dislocated right pointer finger, Memphis guard Mike Conley had 19 points and six assists. Bucks 108, Cavaliers 92: Eric Bledsoe had 20 points and 12 rebounds, and host Milwaukee made 15 threepointers in the win. 76ers 116, Pistons 102: Joel Embiid scored 24 points in his return to the lineup after a one-game absence for host Philadelphia. Jimmy Butler, who had 38 points to lead the 76ers to a 117-111 victory in Detroit on Friday, exited in the first half with a strained groin and did not return. Luke Kennard finished with a career-high 28 points for Detroit, which has lost five straight and was missing Blake Griffin (rest). Thunder scored 31 points 122, Jazz and 113: Dennis Paul Schroder George added 23, helping host Oklahoma City to the win. Thunder guard Russell Westbrook was 4-for-18 from the field but finished with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Celtics 113, Pelicans 100: Marcus Morris Sr. had a season-high 31 points, making three quick three-pointers to start the second half, and Jayson Tatum scored 21 to lead host Boston to its sixth straight win. The Celtics’ Kyrie Irving, Al Horford, Gordon Hayward and Aaron Baynes were all either ill or injured. Anthony Davis scored 41 points for New Orleans. Pacers 109, Wizards 101: Myles Turner had 26 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks, and host Indiana picked up its season-high fourth straight win. Mavericks 101, Magic 76: Harrison Barnes scored 19 points, rookie Jalen Brunson added a personal-high 17 and host Dallas cruised.