LOS ANGELES — JJ Redick called the 55-game stretch through Thursday night the hardest of his 17-year career, transcending playing and coaching alike. The Lakers’ coach was referring to the emotional and mental energy expended day after day as its own challenge – minimal practice time and little rest during the midseason march toward eventual win-or-go-home games in the spring.
Two nights after Redick had to sit all five of his preferred starters in a loss to the San Antonio Spurs – whether for injury or injury-related rest – the Lakers looked well-rested on Thursday as they powered their way past the the Dallas Mavericks, 124-104, to head into the All-Star break with seven wins in their past 11 games.
LeBron James’ relaxed presence during pregame activities, dancing and jerking his arms and legs on the court was upbeat compared to his Monday night tone when the 41-year-old bemoaned the team’s energy levels and patience after they fell into a late-game slumber against the Oklahoma City Thunder. James parlayed Thursday’s pregame vibes into in-game success from the get-go on his way to making more NBA history. He finished with 28 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds, becoming the oldest player in league history (at 41 years and 44 days old) to record a triple-double.
Each of the Lakers’ first 23 points came either directly from James or off an assist from their 22-time All-Star.
He soared a pass into Jaxson Hayes’ hands for an alley-oop, drained back-to-back 3-pointers and funneled three assists to Rui Hachimura, whose nine first-quarter points were second on the team to James’ 14. Just a few minutes into the third quarter, James secured a double-double with a no-look, one-handed pass to Hayes for a dunk. He closed out the triple-double on a rebound with the Lakers holding a 20-point lead with two minutes left in the game.
James’ 123rd career regular-season triple-double – his first since Feb. 1, 2025 – broke the age record held by Karl Malone, who recorded a triple-double for the Lakers when he was 40 years and 127 days old.
Redick, who said before the game that he was content with the team’s defensive identity in recent weeks, saw more of the zone-defense prowess the Lakers (33-21) delivered during most of their eight-game Grammys road trip. In their past 13 games, the Lakers have conceded more than 115 points just four times.
“I think the zone has been really good for us and the guys have done a good job in communicating when we do go to man out of it,” Redick said before the game.
The Lakers led by as much as 13 points in the first half, but the Mavericks (19-35) reeled them in several times, notably erasing the Lakers’ 64-51 lead for a one-point halftime advantage after Naji Marshall hit a trio of jumpers before the break.
“There’s still some things that we can get a lot better at,” Redick added before the game. “And we’ll continue to chip away at it.”
The Lakers pulled away for good in the third quarter, holding the Mavericks to just 19 points, while frontcourt reserves Maxi Kleber and Jarred Vanderbilt made rare 3-pointers – part of a 10-of-31 showing for the team from behind the arc) to help the Lakers push their lead as high as 22 points.
Hachimura finished with 21 points, while Reaves had 18 points and six assists.
Marshall (8-of-13 from the field) and Max Christie scored 19 points apiece to pace the Mavericks, who lost their ninth straight to fall into their longest skid in 28 seasons.
The Lakers outrebounded the Mavericks 44-28, dominating the paint with Dallas rookie star forward Cooper Flagg out with a foot sprain.
_More to come on this story._