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James shot 18 of 25 from the field and 6 of 9
from 3-point range as the Lakers won for just the second time in
eight games. In the only other victory during that stretch,
James had a season-best 56 points on March 5 in a home victory
over the Golden State Warriors -- his only other 50-point game
of the season.
James became the first Lakers player with multiple games of 50
points in a season since Kobe Bryant in 2007-08. He reached the
50-point mark on a 3-pointer with 1:41 remaining.
Malik Monk had 21 points for the Lakers, while Talen
Horton-Tucker added 15. James had six assists, leaving him two
shy of 10,000 for his career.
Former Laker Kyle Kuzma had 23 points and rookie Corey Kispert
scored a career-best 21 for the Wizards, who lost for the fifth
time in seven games. Rui Hachimura had 15 points, while Kristaps
Porzingis had 14 points and 14 rebounds in just his third game
with Washington.
After a first quarter that ended in a 26-all tie, the Lakers
held a one-point lead with just over four minutes remaining
before halftime. However, the Wizards closed on a 10-2 run to
take a 59-52 lead into the break.
James put his imprint on the game in the third quarter, scoring
19 points, including 12 consecutive Los Angeles points in one
stretch, as Los Angeles turned a 69-64 deficit into a 76-71
lead. The Wizards had led by as many as nine on two occasions
early in the third quarter.
The Lakers took an 89-82 lead into the fourth quarter and
grabbed their first double-digit advantage of the game at 103-93
on a James basket with 5:48 remaining.
Lakers forward Anthony Davis, who celebrated his 29th birthday
Friday, missed his eighth consecutive game with a foot sprain,
while also sitting out his 29th game overall this season. The
Lakers are 2-6 in the past eight Davis has missed.
--Field Level Media
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