LeBron James erupts for 51 points in Miami on Sunday
It’s no secret that LeBron James can score the basketball.
In case any Miami Heat fans forgot that fact since he moved on from South Florida, though, James provided an excellent reminder on Sunday.
James scored a season-high 51 points, shooting 19-of-31 from the field, in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 113-97 win against the Heat at American Airlines Arena on Sunday night, the most ever by a Lakers player against the Heat.
James didn’t take his time on Sunday, either. He got things started right away — quickly putting up 19 points in the first quarter.
.@KingJames just dropped 19 1st-quarter points in Miami! 🔥#LakeShow pic.twitter.com/9jo51M7XrB
— NBA TV (@NBATV) November 18, 2018
After just an eight-point second quarter, James added 15 more in the third to hit the 42-point mark and put the Lakers up 16 points heading into the final period.
From there, James rolled to complete his 12th 50-point game of his career.
“From the jump ball, he was going,” Lakers coach Luke Walton said, via Al Butler. “He was in attack mode, and he was making shots. When players are as good as LeBron and have that night, it just looks easy for them. It’s not easy, but they make it look easy because they’re that good.”
More Luke Walton on LeBron James after his season-high 51 pts vs the Heat. #HeatCulture #lakeshow pic.twitter.com/xO7eCnrHHB
— Al Butler (@ALaboutSports) November 19, 2018
James ended the game with a 3-pointer, too.
While he may not have taken that shot normally, as the Lakers were going to win the game regardless, James said he had to. Lance Stephenson dared him.
Lance dared Bron to end the game with a 3 😂
(via @notoriousOHM)pic.twitter.com/e7NxjImgVF
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 19, 2018
“That’s my guy now,” James said of Stephenson. “We’re on the same side.”
James is now the first Lakers player to score 40 or more points more than once since Kobe Bryant retired in 2016 with his performance on Sunday. He also became just the fifth player in NBA history with a 50-point game for three different teams.
LeBron James is the 5th player in NBA history with a 50-point game for three different franchises joining Wilt Chamberlain, Moses Malone, Bernard King and Jamal Crawford.
— Micah Adams (@MicahAdams13) November 19, 2018
While he’s been there multiple times since he returned to Cleveland in 2014, it’s a safe guess that James is content with his return to South Beach this weekend.
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