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LeBron James continued to defy age with a masterful performance on Sunday night, recording his second consecutive triple-double in the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-103 victory over the Toronto Raptors. The win, which improved the Lakers' home record to 5-0, was marred by an injury to Anthony Davis, who left the game in the third quarter after taking an inadvertent hit to the face.
Davis injured, but Lakers hold strong
Davis, who had been leading the National Basketball Association (NBA) in scoring entering the game, suffered an eye injury after blocking a dunk attempt by Toronto's Jakob Poeltl with 5:16 left in the third quarter.
Poeltl’s off-hand caught Davis in the face, forcing the nine-time All-Star to leave the game and head to the locker room. While Davis had contributed 22 points before the injury, his absence did not derail the Lakers’ momentum.
LeBron James took control of the game as he finished with 19 points, a season-high 16 assists, and 10 rebounds. It was also his third triple-double of the season, marking the 115th of his illustrious career.
James has shown no signs of slowing down, with his 13 triple-doubles since turning 37 years old, which sets him apart from most other players in NBA history.
Reaves shines in Davis’ absence
Austin Reaves stepped up in Davis' absence, scoring a team-high 27 points and contributing to the Lakers’ dominance down the stretch.
Los Angeles rallied after Davis’ injury, finishing the third quarter on a 16-5 run, which helped them secure a comfortable lead. Rookie Dalton Knecht also provided a spark with a crucial 3-pointer that gave the Lakers the lead for good.
Raptors struggling despite strong performances
For the Raptors, the loss extended their tough stretch of form, marking their fourth consecutive defeat and eighth loss in their last nine games.
Chris Boucher and RJ Barrett each scored 18 points in the loss, but Toronto struggled to contain the Lakers' offensive firepower. Jakob Poeltl, who was solid on both ends of the floor, contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to stave off the Lakers' attack.
Takeaways from the game
Raptors: Immanuel Quickley, who had missed the previous eight games due to a pelvic bruise, scored 12 points and played a key role for Toronto in his return. Despite Poeltl’s solid performance, the Raptors’ overall struggles continued, especially in the absence of a consistent offensive threat.
Lakers: At 6-4, the Lakers are off to their best start in four seasons. However, the injury to Davis is a major concern moving forward. If Davis is sidelined for an extended period, it could jeopardize the team’s early-season momentum.
The key turning point in the game came shortly after Davis’ injury. The Lakers used the moment to rally, finishing the third quarter strong with a 16-5 run. They never looked back after that, securing the victory in front of their home crowd.
LeBron’s historic achievements
LeBron James continues to add to his legacy with remarkable consistency. Since turning 37 in December 2021, he has recorded 13 triple-doubles, more than any other player in NBA history after their 37th birthday. Only six other players have managed to achieve a triple-double at that age, combining for just eight total.
What’s next?
The Lakers will return to action on Wednesday, hosting the Memphis Grizzlies. Meanwhile, the Raptors will close out their five-game road trip with a matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.
