LeBron James ties Karl Malone for most 20-point games in NBA history

Dave McMenamin: LeBron James has 20 pts on 7-of-14 shooting. It’s the 1,134th 20-point game of his career, tying him with Karl Malone for the most in league history. Source: Twitter @mcten What’s the buzz on Twitter? Tony Jones @ Tjonesonthenba Wow, …

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Kyle Goon @kylegoon
The halfcourt offense execution in this quarter feels light years away from what it was even in the last game. Multiple guys moving toward the basket, multiple passes in possessions. LeBron with a give and go just now that was more well oiled than most of the offense we’ve seen. – 5:42 PM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
This bench shift led by LeBron feels critical. Not sure if you guys are aware of Damian Lillard’s reputation in close games in the fourth quarter but – 5:32 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron just tied Karl Malone for the most 20-point games in NBA history tonight, with 1,134. – 5:28 PM
Brad Turner @BA_Turner
LeBron James has tied Karl Malone for most 20 point games in NBA history at 1,134 – 5:28 PM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
LeBron James has 20 pts on 7-of-14 shooting. It’s the 1,134th 20-point game of his career, tying him with Karl Malone for the most in league history. – 5:27 PM
Brad Turner @BA_Turner
Lakers lead Blazers 83-78 end of 3rd. LeBron James has 20 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists. AD has 20 points, 9 rebounds. – 5:26 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Third quarter: Lakers 83, Blazers 78
That was the Lakers’ best quarter of the season. Anthony Davis has 20 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals and 5 blocks. LeBron James has 20 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. They are now up to 6 of 29 on 3s (20.7%). Defense has been impressive. – 5:26 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
B2B 3’s from LeBron have LAL up 83-76. That’s 5 makes from 3 in the 3rd Q after 1 in the 1st half. – 5:24 PM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
LeBron with back to back threes. The Lakers have started this half 5 for 12 from deep after going 1 for 16 in the first half. – 5:24 PM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
That was a great diagonal pass from Bron to Walker for three – 5:13 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron made one of his patented cross court passes to get a teammate a wide open corner 3, and Walker IV hit it to tie the game, LeBron’s 6th assist.
Lillard answered, however, as POR leads by 3. – 5:13 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
After both teams took turns missing shots on six consecutive attempts (3 from Westbrook, 2 from Simons), LAL ripped off a quick 7-0 run to tie the game at 59, as LeBron and AD scored inside, and Beverley hit a 3. – 5:06 PM
Aaron J. Fentress @AaronJFentress
Blazers have overcome a poor start to snatch a 55-48 halftime lead at the Lakers. Damian Lillard leads the Blazers, who have 12 turnovers, with 21 points. Jerami Grant has 12. LeBron James and Anthony Davis each have 10. Lakers shooting 35.4% and 1 of 16 on threes. yes, ONE OF 16 pic.twitter.com/uauNBLsu044:46 PM

Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Halftime: Blazers 55, Lakers 48
The Lakers are shooting 1 of 16 on 3s (6.3%) and are now 20 of 101 on the season (19.8%). LeBron James and Anthony Davis each have 10 points. Defense, FTs and ball security (five fewer turnovers than POR) are keeping LA in this game. – 4:45 PM
Bob Garcia @bgarciaivsports
LeBron is still a freight train driving to the rim – 4:34 PM
NBA Kicks @NBAKicks
LeBron James laces up his Nike LeBron XX for early action in LA! #NBAKicks pic.twitter.com/E1oz1N195u4:19 PM

Sean Highkin @highkin
Don’t think I’ve ever seen LeBron miss a shot that badly in 20 years. – 4:17 PM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
LeBron James’ airball from 3 gives the Lakers a 1-for-10 start from deep in today’s game. – 4:16 PM
Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
The Lakers are 1-for-10 from 3, including a LeBron James airball. No lasers here indeed. – 4:16 PM
Janis Carr @janiscarr
LeBron has one FG in the first quarter and it it happen until there was 27 secs left. That’s not good for the Lakers – 4:13 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
First quarter: Blazers 32, Lakers 24
A disastrous second half of the quarter. The Lakers were outscored 10-0 with LeBron on the bench. Damian Lillard has 14 points. Anthony Davis has 6 points and 3 blocks. LA has as many turnovers (6) as assists (6). They are 1-7 on 3s (14.3%). – 4:12 PM
Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
LeBron James subs out of game:
– 5:37 remaining 1Q
– 16-11 Lakers lead
LeBron James subs into game:
– 2:38 remaining 1Q
– 21-16 Blazers lead
didnt score a single point. – 4:09 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Lakers up 6-0 early against Portland.
LAL got a baseline J from Walker IV, a dunk from Davis in screen/roll action with LeBron, and 2 FT’s from AD amidst an ice cold start from Portland (0 for 5, including 4 misses from Lillard). – 3:44 PM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
The Lakers have started 2 for 2, the second on a beautiful pick and roll action that saw LeBron lob over two defenders and AD finish with the dunk. I think the Lakers could win if they keep shooting 100%. – 3:42 PM
Austin Burton @Amaar_206
NBA League Pass Game of the Day: Blazers at Lakers
LeBron and L.A. face what feels like a must-win after dropping their first two. Damian Lillard scored 41 in his last game and loves to play the giant-killer role. pic.twitter.com/ecDNv0NOsx3:10 PM

Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
The Lakers are using same starters vs. the Blazers:
Russell Westbrook
Lonnie Walker IV
Patrick Beverley
LeBron James
Anthony Davis – 3:03 PM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Lakers rolling with the same starters today against the Blazers: LeBron, AD, Russ, Lonnie, Pat Bev. – 3:00 PM
Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi
LeBron James has expressed interest in owning an NBA team in Las Vegas and now Magic Johnson wants to own a piece of the Las Vegas Raiders. The latest from The @SportingTrib: thesportingtribune.com/magic-johnson-…11:25 AM
Chris Palmer @ChrisPalmerNBA
3 First Career Games:
LeBron: 18 pts, 7.3 rebs, 7.6 asts, 44% FG
Paolo: 23.3 pts, 8.6 rebs, 3.3 asts, 41% FG – 10:22 AM
Casey Holdahl @CHold
Same injuries for Portland: Payton II, Watford and Sarr are out. As for the Lakers, Bryant, Shroder and Swinder are out and Lebron, AD and Troy Brown Jr. are probable for Sunday afternoon’s game in LA. – 9:11 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Lakers’ injury report vs. Portland:
Troy Brown Jr., Anthony Davis and LeBron James are probable.
Thomas Bryant, Dennis Schroder and Coke Swider are out. pic.twitter.com/FjqpBr8OC57:16 PM

Mike Prada @MikePradaNBA
Left: the spatial alignment of a John Stockton-Karl Malone pick-and-roll.
Right: the spatial alignment of a Suns pick-and-roll from the 2021 playoffs.
SPACED OUT, featuring graphics like this and a bunch of words, is out in 10 days. Preorder yours today https://t.co/ISA4Xno2Dh pic.twitter.com/txaNhdCEq63:48 PM

Justin Kubatko @jkubatko
📅 On this day in 1976, Hall of Famer Alex English scored four points in his NBA debut with the @Milwaukee Bucks.
English would go on to become one of the most productive scorers in NBA history. He and Karl Malone are the only players to record at least eight straight 2,000-point seasons. pic.twitter.com/mwlunJoVh212:01 PM

More on this storyline

Justin Kubatko: LeBron James last night: ✅ 31 PTS ✅ 14 REB ✅ 8 AST James (37 years, 292 days) is the third-oldest player in NBA history to record at least 30p/10r/5a in a game. The two players above him are Michael Jordan (2x) and Karl Malone (5x). Jordan is the only 40-year-old to do so. pic.twitter.com/PrPv6M7OEo -via Twitter @jkubatko / October 19, 2022
You’d have to build it around, what, Patrick Beverley and Lonnie Walker? Or Kendrick Nunn? So, the only thing the Lakers could offer Golden State that might be worth it is the two picks they have – send out all those guys plus the picks in 2027 and 2029. They (Los Angeles) like Draymond, LeBron wants Draymond, and Draymond has been following LeBron around like a puppy dog these last couple of years. But I can’t see them giving up those two picks for him, not at his age and not with him being a free agent next summer anyway,” The executive said. -via Heavy.com / October 22, 2022
Ham also said he didn’t have a problem with Westbrook saying what he said to reporters after the Warriors game, or with LeBron James’ blunt assessment that “we’re not a team that’s constructed of great shooting” — even if their comments were interpreted as critiques of the coaching staff and front office. “It’s a grown man’s league,” Ham said. “Things are going to be said whether it’s directed at someone or not. I handle it in stride. I’ve been around this thing for 26 years. I’ve been on quiet teams and I’ve been on a couple of loud teams. But I have the utmost respect for those guys. I believe they have the utmost respect for me. There’s nothing taken personal about anything. We address it and we move on.” -via ESPN / October 21, 2022
The Lakers can’t hit outside shots. That much is clear after L.A. shot 9-for-45 from 3 in Thursday night’s 103-97 loss to the Clippers. That total somehow managed to be even worse than the Lakers’ 10-for-40 clip from deep in their opening-night loss to the Golden State Warriors. Yet while LeBron James bluntly lamented his team’s lack of “lasers” on the roster after the Warriors game, he did not add to that refrain Thursday, even after the Lakers went 0-for-9 on 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. “I’m definitely not going to sit here and harp on what we can’t do every single game,” James said when asked about his team’s mounting misses. “That’s not a leader. What I know we can do? We can defend our ass off. We did that tonight, which gave us an opportunity to win and we just couldn’t make it happen. But, I’m OK with that.” -via ESPN / October 21, 2022