Luka Doncic returned to the Lakers lineup on Sunday night after a two-game absence, welcoming the birth of his second daughter. LeBron James also returned to action after a one game absence due to a combination of back and foot injuries.
Fresh from a brief break, Luka Doncic picked up right where he left off. He led all scorers with 31 points and led all rebounders with 15 boards. He also posted 11 assists, putting the finishing touches on a monster triple-double. LeBron James posted his best game of the season thus far, finishing with 29 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Deandre Ayton was also impressive, scoring 14 points on a perfect 7-for-7 shooting from the field to go along with 12 rebounds, one steal and one block. He also kept Joel Embiid in check on the defensive end as the former MVP scored just 16 points on 4-for-21 shooting.
Despite 28 points from Tyrese Maxey, Los Angeles held on to secure a four-point road victory. The win makes them 9-3 on the road this year, third in the NBA behind only the Denver Nuggets and defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
Now 17-6, the Lakers have moved back into a tie for second in the Western Conference with the Nuggets who also won on Sunday. Los Angeles will have the next two days off before returning home to face the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday in an NBA Cup quarterfinals matchup.
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