LeBron James’ 10 best performances of the season
5. Carrying the load before the All-Star Break (02/12/20)
Similar to the often disregarded final game of the regular season, the last game before the All-Star break is one no player is keen on participating in.
With a well-earned extended vacation in sight, summoning the energy to compete across 48 minutes is easier said than done. Even harder on the home floor of a spry Denver Nuggets team ranked second in the conference at the time.
Denver had gone up as many as 13 in the second quarter before LA took the lead by 11 early in the third. It was a back and forth contest from there on out, one LeBron James had no problem inflicting his will on.
He dropped 11 points with three assists in the fourth to force overtime, where Anthony Davis stepped up to the plate to help secure a four-point victory.
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LeBron James led the Lakers to an OT win over the Nuggets:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 13, 2020
32 PTS
12 REB
14 AST
James is the first player in NBA history to record multiple 30-point triple-doubles after turning 35 years old.
In fact, only two other players have done so even once: Kobe Bryant and Larry Bird. pic.twitter.com/vtQgcqR8Rl
In its entirety, LeBron finished with 32 points, 14 assists and 12 rebounds, helping the Lakers take both their games at the Pepsi Center on the tear.
The Western Conference doesn’t offer the same luxuries as its eastern counterpart. Coasting comes at a heavy price and seeding could mean everything in a bracket littered with top-shelf competition.
Even at 35, LeBron seems to have grasped that understanding, and it’s pushed him to remain in attack mode with performances like this one at times where he may have slowed down in the past.