Luka Doncic scores 60, LeBron ties NBA games record in Lakers win

MIAMI — This is number 41.

On the same night he tied Robert Parish for the NBA record in regular-season games, perennial prodigy LeBron James had a triple-double of 19 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in Thursday’s 134-126 victory over the Miami Heat. The 41-year-old playing his 1,611th game helped the Lakers (45-25) win their season-best eighth straight game, while star guard Luka Doncic scored a season-high 60 points, including 20 points in the final quarter.

James became the oldest player in NBA history to record a triple-double, surpassing the mark he set last month.

“He’s a psychopath,” coach JJ Redick said with affection, respect and respect.

Doncic, a night after scoring 40 points with 10 assists, was flooded with “MVP” chants in the fourth quarter as he became the ninth Laker with multiple 50-point performances in a single season. He scored 51 points in a victory against the Chicago Bulls on March 12.

James, Doncic and guard Austin Reaves were all questionable to play in their second game in as many nights. Doncic was dealing with right hip soreness and Reaves was battling a right forearm bruise after Wednesday’s physical win over Houston. James, who suffered a hard fall in the fourth quarter and banged his right elbow, was officially nursing arthritis in his left foot. Earlier this season, James referred to his illnesses as just “old.”

But before Redick could even check on his stars’ status Thursday afternoon, he learned they had already decided on their availability. The players huddled in the locker room after Wednesday’s game before the coaches came in and decided they would all play against Miami (38-32).

“When he said he was playing, I was like, I can’t let a 41-year-old go and not play,” said Reaves, who battled through a shooting wrist contusion to finish with 18 points. “SO [I] I signed up to play, as did Luka, and we went on to win.

Doncic, a night after scoring 40 points with 10 assists, was flooded with “MVP” chants in the fourth quarter as he became the ninth Laker with multiple 50-point performances in a single season. He scored 51 points in a victory against the Chicago Bulls on March 12.

Lakers star Luka Doncic celebrates after scoring in the second half against the Heat on Thursday.

(Lynne Sladky/Associated Press)

Following the 8:30 p.m. local announcement in Houston, the Lakers did not land in Miami until after 4 a.m. The players didn’t arrive at their hotel rooms until 5:10 a.m.

The Lakers looked like it early on, too. They sleepwalked through the first few minutes of the game, falling behind 9-0. They didn’t get their first basket until 8:59 of the first quarter.

Of course, it was a James dunk.

“I just wanted to go in and see how the body felt after some of the routine things that I do and the treatments that I do,” James said. “And I decided to give it a shot. We all decided to give it a shot. So it’s a big win for us on the road, especially under the circumstances.”

Instead of suffering the physical consequences of playing two consecutive games in different time zones, James focused more on mental lockdown. His meticulous pre-game routine took years to develop and hours to complete. His teammates ten years younger than him never beat him in the arena on match days.

But they still try to keep up.

Lakers star LeBron James celebrates during the fourth quarter against the Miami Heat on Thursday.

(A Rich History / Getty Images)

“You see this guy who has done everything in this league, accomplished everything, he still comes here every day with that professional attitude and takes nothing for granted,” said 32-year-old guard Marcus Smart, who played 27 minutes, 31 seconds with 13 points one night after 34 minutes in Houston. “It forces you to do the same thing.”

With many of his teammates struggling early, James made his first seven shots from the field, a perfect shooting streak that lasted into the fourth quarter. Redick approached the Lakers’ bench during their groggy start and tried to sympathize with his players, saying he knew they were tired.

“Bron was like, ‘I’m not tired,’” Reaves said. “So I said to myself, ‘I’m not tired either.’ So yes, follow the leader.

In his 23rd NBA season, James is helping the Lakers perform at their best at the most important time of the year by taking on a new role. Since returning from a three-game injury absence, James has ceded more control of the offense to Doncic and Reaves. He hasn’t given up any impact on the game, averaging 20.4 points over the last five games while shooting 64.6 percent from the field.

James has missed just five shots in the last two games, including a 13-of-14 shot against Houston on Wednesday. It’s been 13 years since his last 13-of-14 shooting performance, which came with the Heat in 2013. That team’s coach, Erik Spoelstra, can only marvel.

“He’s not only competing against the whole league, but also against Father Time,” Spoelstra said. “And he gives Father Time hell.”