LeBron James made history Friday, breaking the record for most field goals in NBA history, though the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a 120-113 defeat to the Denver Nuggets.
James, already the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s previous record of 15,837 field goals with a fadeaway jumper in the first quarter. At 41 years old and in his 23rd NBA season, James continues to defy the odds, though he hinted in January about the uncertainty of his future:
“I don’t know what the future holds.”
In the Lakers’ loss, James scored 16 points and appeared to injure his left elbow in the fourth quarter after falling onto a cameraman’s legs. He returned to play the final two minutes, visibly in pain.
The Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokić, cruised to a wire-to-wire win, with Jokić recording a triple-double of 28 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds. The result could have playoff implications, as the Lakers sit in the sixth and final automatic playoff spot, just behind the Nuggets.
James’s career scoring tally exceeds 43,000 points, nearly 5,000 more than second-placed Abdul-Jabbar. The new field goal record adds further evidence of his longevity and dominance across more than two decades in the league.
Victor Wembanyama Shines for Spurs
Meanwhile, San Antonio Spurs prodigy Victor Wembanyama led his team to a 121-106 victory over Eastern Conference leaders Detroit Pistons. The 7-foot-5 French star scored 38 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, dominating the game alongside teammate De’Aaron Fox, who added 29 points.
“Any game between top seeds should be impressive. For us, it was super fun,” said Wembanyama.
The Spurs improved to 13 wins in their last 14 games, moving within three games of West-leading Oklahoma City Thunder.
Warriors Edge Rockets in Overtime Thriller
The Golden State Warriors secured a 115-113 overtime victory over the Houston Rockets in a nail-biting contest. After 12 lead changes and a 101-101 tie at the end of regulation, Kevin Durant’s missed free throws in overtime left the Rockets agonizingly short. The win was crucial for the Warriors as they fight to maintain an eighth seed playoff position amid injuries to stars like Stephen Curry.
Rising Star Cooper Flagg Reaches 1,000 Points
In a high-stakes matchup, the Orlando Magic narrowly defeated the Dallas Mavericks 115-114 thanks to late heroics from Jalen Suggs. Cooper Flagg, returning from a foot injury, scored enough to become the second-youngest player in NBA history to reach 1,000 career points, a milestone previously held only by LeBron James in 2004.
