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LeBron James inspired the Los Angeles Lakers to a 128-112 win over the New York Knicks amid reports Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic could soon become his new team-mate in a huge three-way trade deal.<\/b><\/p>\n
James scored 33 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists as the Lakers ended the Knicks’ five-game winning streak at Madison Square Garden.<\/p>\n
Shortly after the game finished, reports emerged that five-time NBA All-Star Doncic could be joining James on the west coast.<\/p>\n
ESPN reported Anthony Davis, an NBA title winner with the Lakers in 2020, would head to Dallas as part of the deal, along with guard Max Christie.<\/p>\n
The Mavericks would also get a 2029 first-round draft pick, while Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris will head to the Lakers.<\/p>\n
The three-way trade also reportedly includes the Utah Jazz, who would get Lakers guard Jalen Hood-Schifino and a pair of second-round picks in this year’s draft.<\/p>\n
Slovenian Doncic, currently sidelined with a calf injury, has averaged 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game for the Mavericks since being traded from the Atlanta Hawks in 2018.<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old has been an NBA All-Star for the past five seasons and finished as the league’s top scorer in 2024 to help his side reach the NBA finals.<\/p>\n
Though Doncic could be seen as James’ long-term successor, the 40-year-old showed he can still compete at the highest level with a standout display in New York.<\/p>\n
“He led tonight with his spirit, his force, his voice,” said Lakers coach JJ Redick.<\/p>\n
“Obviously he played a fantastic statistic game, but from the beginning it was very clear that he was on a mission.”<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, reigning NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Nikola Jokic scored 28 points with 13 rebounds and 17 assists as the Denver Nuggets won 107-104 against the Charlotte Hornets, who suffered a fourth successive defeat.<\/p>\n
Aaron Wiggins scored a career-high 41 points as Western Conference leaders the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the the Sacramento Kings 144-110.<\/p>\n
Kyle Kuzma scored 31 points as the Washington Wizards ended a 16-game losing streak with a 105-103 victory at the Minnesota Timberwolves, while the Utah Jazz ended an eight-game losing run of their own with a 113-99 home win over the Orlando Magic.<\/p>\n
The Atlanta Hawks were beaten 132-127 by the Indianapolis Pacers, despite 34 points and 17 assists from Trae Young.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n