PHILADELPHIA — With Luka Doncic being away from the team and in Slovenia for the birth of his second daughter for the start of the Lakers’ three-game trip, Coach JJ Redick was hopeful the star guard would be feeling like himself for Sunday’s road game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
But what wasn’t mentioned was LeBron James, back in the lineup after a one-game absence because of sciatica and left foot joint arthritis, resembling the version of himself that the Lakers have become accustomed to over the last several years.
Barreling his way to the rim in transition. Assisting teammates when the 76ers sent defensive help his way. Knocking down catch-and-shoot 3-pointers when the opportunities presented themselves.
And when the Lakers needed one final push to get over the hump at Xfinity Mobile Arena, they got a vintage possession from James, with the four-time MVP isoing Quentin Grimes and hitting a stepback 20-footer with 27 seconds left to give the Lakers a 110-105 victory and eventual win.
James finished with a season-high 29 points on 12-of-17 shooting (4 of 6 on 3s) to go with seven rebounds and six assists in 34 minutes in his seventh game back since making his season debut in late November.
Sunday’s victory was the Lakers’ first win in Philadelphia in exactly eight years.
Before Sunday, the Lakers’ last road win over the 76ers came on December 7, 2017 – before even James joined the organization in the summer of 2018.
Doncic finished with a triple-double: 31 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists in his first game back with the team after his brief absence.
Rui Hachimura added 17 points while Deandre Ayton recorded 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Doncic assisted James twice during a run in the fourth that James scored 10 straight points, with his final 3 giving the Lakers a 108-105 lead with 1:12 remaining.
With the victory, James (1,015) moved past Robert Parish (1,014) into second place on the NBA’s all-time list for regular-season wins by a player, trailing only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
The 76ers were led by 28 points and 9 assists from All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey. Joel Embiid added 16 points but shot 4 of 21 from the field.
_More to come on this story._