The Cleveland Cavaliers extended their league-best record to 29-4 with a commanding 122-110 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, overshadowing LeBron James’s first game as a 40-year-old, MySportDab Reports.
Jarrett Allen led the Cavaliers with 27 points and 14 rebounds, supported by Donovan Mitchell’s 26 points and Evan Mobley’s 20-point contribution.
James, a four-time NBA champion and 2016 title winner with Cleveland, recorded 23 points, seven assists, four rebounds, and a block in the historic game, marking him as the first player in league history to compete in both his teens and his 40s. Austin Reaves nearly stole the spotlight for the Lakers, tallying 35 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists, while Anthony Davis added 28 points and 13 rebounds. Despite briefly leading in the second quarter, the Lakers trailed by five at halftime and failed to reclaim the lead.
In Boston, the Celtics closed out 2024 with a historic 125-71 rout of the Toronto Raptors. Jayson Tatum scored 18 of his 23 points in the third quarter as the Celtics outscored the Raptors 45-18 to seal the game. Payton Pritchard added 19 points off the bench, and seven Celtics players reached double figures. Boston sank 22 three-pointers to hand Toronto an 11th consecutive loss, recording the franchise’s second-largest victory margin.
Elsewhere, Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from illness to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 120-112 comeback win over the Indiana Pacers. Trailing by 19 points, the Bucks rallied behind Antetokounmpo’s 30 points and 12 rebounds.
Victor Wembanyama continued his sensational rookie season with 27 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks in the San Antonio Spurs’ 122-86 thrashing of the Los Angeles Clippers.
In Oklahoma City, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 40 points as the Thunder secured a 113-105 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, extending their regular-season win streak to 12. Despite trailing at halftime, Oklahoma City’s dominant third quarter ensured victory.
The night underscored the intense competition across the league, with standout performances shaping the end of the year.
