After two consecutive losses against Western Conference powerhouses, the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs, the Los Angeles Lakers were able to return to the win column on Friday with a resounding 124-104 win against the new-look Dallas Mavericks.
LeBron James anchored the Lakers’ offense with a triple-double of 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists.
“Going into the break, we wanted to end with a win, get a little bit more energy, a little bit more pep in my step… The West is tough, so we can’t afford to drop games,” James said postgame.
LeBron Makes History Again
With two minutes left in the game and the Lakers up 20, James grabbed his 10th rebound to make him the oldest player in NBA history to record a triple-double at 41 years old.
The last time LeBron dropped a triple-double was on February 2, 2025, against the New York Knicks. Hours after, the infamous trade for Luka Doncic happened. Incidentally, the Slovenian sensation missed the Lakers’ latest win but is expected to return after the All-Star break.
The last player to record a triple-double at age 40 was the 40-year-old Karl Malone, who accomplished it in 2003. Malone also happened to accomplish that feat while playing for the Lakers. He put up 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Mavs Continue to Struggle Without Flagg
Like the Lakers, the Mavs were also missing a key piece in rookie Cooper Flagg, who is also expected to miss the Castrol Rising Stars game during All-Star Weekend. The Mavs have now dropped to a 19-35 record entering the break.
With their ninth consecutive loss, Dallas is now in the midst of its longest losing streak in 28 years. The franchise’s all-time record for futility was losing 15 straight games during the 1997-98 season.
The Mavs will look to return stronger after the All-Star break when they face the Minnesota Timberwolves on February 21. The Lakers, meanwhile, will await a matchup against their city rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers, on the same day.
