LeBron James Shatters NBA Field-Goal Record as Lakers Surge Toward Playoffs

LOS ANGELES – A much-needed late-season surge has the Los Angeles Lakers looking like contenders again. Sparked by the healthy return of their superstar trio—Luka Dončić, LeBron James and Austin Reaves—the Purple and Gold have rattled off back-to-back wins and will try to keep the momentum rolling Sunday night when the struggling Sacramento Kings visit Crypto.com Arena. Dončić turned 27 this week and celebrated with a near triple-double (27 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists) in Tuesday’s 110-101 comeback victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, a game the Lakers closed on a dominant 24-7 run. James poured in 21 points while Reaves added 18, underscoring how lethal Los Angeles can be when all three play extended minutes together. Subheading: Defensive urgency returns Head coach Darvin Ham credited improved on-ball pressure and ball security for the revival. Over the last two games the Lakers have forced 30 turnovers while committing just 19 of their own, translating defense into easy transition buckets—an element missing during a three-game slide in late February. “Our back was against the wall,” James told Spectrum SportsNet postgame, “and we decided it had to start on the defensive end.” Subheading: Standings watch At 34-27, the Lakers occupy sixth place in the Western Conference, the final spot that avoids the play-in tournament. They’re one game up on Phoenix and 2.5 behind fifth-seeded Denver. With 21 contests left, every matchup carries playoff ramifications; Sunday’s tilt versus Sacramento (14-47, last in the West) opens a favorable three-game homestand that also features Detroit and San Antonio—clubs with a combined .298 winning percentage. Subheading: Matchup to monitor – pace vs. poise Sacramento plays fast under interim coach Jordi Fernández, averaging 102.1 possessions per 48 minutes (5th in NBA). The Lakers have thrived recently by slowing opponents and forcing half-court sets; expect Dončić to exploit mismatches in the post while James orchestrates pick-and-rolls designed to hunt Kings rookie big Maxime Raynaud. If Los Angeles limits live-ball turnovers, its size advantage on the glass (Lakers rank 8th in rebound rate; Kings 28th) should dictate tempo. Subheading: Injury notebook • Rui Hachimura (illness) is probable after missing two games, giving Ham another switchable defender for Harrison Barnes. • Gabe Vincent (knee) remains out but has begun light on-court work and could return later this month. • Sacramento lists Russell Westbrook (thigh) and Keegan Murray (ankle) as day-to-day; both sat out Thursday’s win in Dallas. Subheading: What it means long term The Lakers’ season has been defined by starts and stops—14 different starting lineups, multiple weeks without Dončić or James, and mid-season trade rumors that never materialized. Yet the underlying numbers hint at upside: when Dončić, James and Reaves share the floor, Los Angeles posts a +9.8 net rating, better than any three-man combo in the West with at least 500 minutes. If health finally cooperates, the Lakers could surge into a top-four seed and secure home-court advantage for the first round. Subheading: Looking ahead After the Kings, Los Angeles hosts Detroit Tuesday and the Spurs Thursday before embarking on a daunting five-game road trip that includes Milwaukee and Boston. Win the next three and the Lakers could enter that gauntlet 10 games above .500 for the first time this year—an ideal launching pad for a March push up the standings. Keyword recap: Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James, Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, NBA playoff race, Western Conference, Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans, Crypto.com Arena.