San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
Lebron James leads Lakers past Indiana in return.
Los Angles Lakers coach Frank Vogel liked what he saw of Lebron James’ return
“It is going to take time to get his timing back to 100 percent, but for most of the game he looked good,” Vogel said. “He looked like his old self again.”
James, back after a sixgame absence, scored 24 points, including seven key points late, to lead the Lakers to a 122-115 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday. Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 28 points.
The Lakers can notch the No. 6 seed if they win at New Orleans today and Portland loses to Denver. If the Lakers finish No. 7, they will be in the play-in tournament against the No. 8 seed.
Davis, who missed the previous game because of a tight left thigh, sank 9 of 18 shots and grabbed 10 rebounds. James played 28 minutes, hitting 11 of 22 shots. James had eight assists and seven rebounds.
James was out for the last six games while recovering from high ankle sprain. He missed six weeks and then returned to play two games.
“It felt a lot better than the last time I came back,” James said. “I felt good coming into the game. I think each game I’ll get better and better. It will take a few games to get it all back. It’s up to coach and training staff if I play (today).”
Davis had missed Wednesday’s game with Houston.
“I felt great the entire time,” Davis said. “It’s nice to get the whole team back out there.”
Andre Drummond had 15 rebounds for the Lakers, who held a 45-37 rebounding edge.
The Lakers led 111-97 before the Pacers scored 11 straight points to trim the lead to 111-108 with 3:07 left. James then took over by scoring the next seven points, starting with a 3-pointer to put the Lakers up 118-110.
“We had seven straight stops with the group, Goga (Bitadze) had a couple of blocks,” Pacers coach Nate Bjorkgren said of closing the game. “Then they made some tough shots. We had some good looks but they didn’t go down.”
Caris Levert, who was questionable entering the game with knee injury, was high for the Pacers with 28. Jakarr Sampson came off the bench to score 20.
Suns 140, Spurs 103: Devin Booker had 27 points and visiting Phoenix beat San Antonio to maintain its hope of earning the top spot in the NBA and Western Conference. Phoenix moved within a game of Utah for first in the West. The Jazz conclude their season today in Sacramento while the Suns close a two-game series in San Antonio. Phoenix swept the season series against Utah.
Busck 122, Heat 108: Khris Middleton and Bryn Forbes each scored 21 points to help host Milwaukee beat Miami in a potential firstround playoff series preview.
Jrue Holiday added 20 points and 10 assists for the Bucks. Kendrick Nunn had a season-high 31 points for the Heat, who were without leading scorer Jimmy Butler because of lower back tightness.
Nets 105, Bulls 91: Kyrie Irving scored 22 points while playing with Kevin Durant and James Harden for the first time in three months, leading Brooklyn past host Chicago. Durant shot just 4 for 17, but finished with 12 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Harden had seven assists, five points and five rebounds while playing 25 minutes in his second game back from a hamstring injury.
Knicks 118, Hornets 109 (OT): Julius Randle had 33 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds and led an overtime surge that sent New York past visiting Charlotte. The Knicks improved to 40-31 and moved into a tie with the idle Atlanta Hawks for the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Celtics 124, Timberwolves 108: Jayson Tatum had 26 points and 11 rebounds to help visiting Minnesota. Evan Fournier added 18 points and was 5 of 8 from 3-point range. Karl-anthony Towns led Minnesota with 24 points and 14 rebounds.
Lakers 122, Pacers 115