LeBron James closes in on scoring mark as Lakers rally past Pacers

image credit by Google image

James' goal for this season was to get back into the playoffs whether he scored five points or 5,000.

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James' 26 points in Thursday's 112-111 win over the Indiana Pacers pulled him within 63 points of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record.

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"I think it's an amazing feat," Lakers coach Darvin Ham said of the scoring record.

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we hardly ever discuss it unless we're asked about it. For us, it's just, how can we get our team in the best position to make a run?"

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James was instrumental in the Lakers' fourth-quarter comeback against the Pacers. L.A. trailed 98-90 when he subbed in with 9:22 remaining in the final frame.

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He scored nine points down the stretch, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:35 remaining to give the Lakers their first lead of the game, and added two go-ahead free throws with 1:09 left.

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[{"selector":"#anim-6936bf70-d91f-48ef-8a92-d26af5cfb2dd [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.26831043321183%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5f4b62e0-6fa7-4105-9df4-c24eea58caf5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e5bf94f3-a25d-4422-bb89-750eaf8b1ea3","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Anthony Davis, who learned after the game that he was not selected as a Western Conference All-Star reserve, was also key in erasing what was once a 15-point deficit and helping the Lakers to improve to 3-1 in games he's played since returning from a right foot injury last week. image credit by Google image

[{"selector":"#anim-1cca5dc3-c176-4d26-bc95-cca4b3e773dc [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.26831043321183%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-08e25c1e-19d8-4b70-9e3d-c6ec3a258b6c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0a0c3007-ad29-4526-908f-c669716cf05a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Davis, who finished with 31 points and 14 rebounds, hit a turnaround, fadeaway shot from 11 feet out to put L.A. up 112-111 with 35.3 seconds left. Then, on Indiana's next possession, he shut down Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton on his drive to the hoop, swatting his layup attempt with 16.5 seconds left. image credit by Google image

[{"selector":"#anim-a33b14ba-5968-4459-b7e8-90ae0e661e0e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(35.234374910402764%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b0aa95e3-4e91-466c-b627-a30e2defcb64","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d00b6465-28a6-44d1-b3fe-1638a9784c1f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Haliburton, who was named an Eastern Conference All-Star reserve earlier Thursday, was having a brilliant game with 26 points and 12 assists before Davis stopped him. image credit by Google image

[{"selector":"#anim-acc7bfcd-dba2-413c-bc4b-84d171bd0699 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(35.234374910402764%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-015b3957-b4c3-44cd-a1b1-45cac4a23948","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4291603d-1f50-45eb-a0b1-8bc0aad4902f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] "I'm here to win, to try to compete for championships, not to get into All-Star Games," Davis said. "My wife is ecstatic. She already texted me, 'So, where we going [during All-Star break]?'" image credit by Google image

[{"selector":"#anim-59c2690d-29af-4a1a-83ee-8171b80ab039 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(34.179687404002955%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9c715fca-8c7f-4492-aa9d-eb3e347fcc6a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e6ff48cf-5eaa-4a96-a9f1-3d8e470edf2d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] As a fan of all sports, James said he can relate to why his points piling up throughout his 20-year career to get to this point is significant. image credit by Google image Learn more