Lebron closes scoring record gap to 36 points in Lakers’ loss

Lebron James moved 36 points away from breaking the NBA career scoring record in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 131-126 loss to New Orleans on Saturday night that ended the Pelicans’ losing streak at 10 games.

James had 27 points to go with nine rebounds and six assists as he continued to close in on Kareem Abdul-jabbar’s record total of 38,387 points.

Brandon Ingram scored 35 points for the Pelicans.

Cam Thomas scored a career-high 44 points off the bench and shorthanded Brooklyn overcame a 23-point deficit to beat Washington.

Kristaps Porzingis led the Wizards with 38 points.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had a triple-double with 35 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists and Milwaukee beat short-handed Miami for its seventh straight victory.

Jimmy Butler scored 32 points for the Heat, who had just nine available players.

Antetokounmpo’s latest triple-double came two nights after he scored 54 points in a 106-105 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Kawhi Leonard scored 35 points, Paul George added 30 and Los Angeles beat New York in overtime.

After the Clippers lost a 17-point fourth quarter lead, Nicolas Batum’s 3-pointer at the regulation buzzer tied it at 115.

Jalen Brunson, who returned after missing a game due to a NON-COVID illness, led the Knicks with 41 points. Julius Randle had 28.

Deandre Ayton had 31 points and 16 rebounds to help Phoenix beat Detroit.

Chris Paul had 14 assists for a balanced offense that didn’t need him to make shots, finishing 0 for 7 and without a field goal for the first time since March 18, 2017, when he helped the Los Angeles Clippers beat Cleveland by 30 points.

Saddiq Bey had 25 points for Detroit.

Shai Gilgeous-alexander scored 42 points and Oklahoma City set a Thunder record for points to rout Houston.

Oklahoma

City surpassed the 150 it scored in a win over the Boston Celtics last month.

Josh Christopher and Tyty Washington each scored 20 points for Houston.

Zach Lavine scored 36 points, Demar Derozan had 27 and Chicago topped Damian Lillard and Portland.

Lillard scored 40 points for Portland, and Anfernee Simons had 27. But the Trail Blazers looked a little tired in the second half of their third game in four nights.