Luka Doncic and LeBron James combined for 60 points in their return to the lineup as the Los Angeles Lakers topped the host Philadelphia 76ers 112-108 on Sunday night.
Los Angeles played the first two games of its three-game road trip without Doncic, who was in Serbia for the birth of his daughter. James also sat out the Lakers’ previous contest while nursing back and foot injuries, but their returns were a welcomed sight for the visitors.
Doncic posted a triple-double, finishing with 31 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists. He only shot 9-of-24 from the field, but James was an efficient 12-of-17 for 29 points, while adding seven rebounds and six assists.
Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 28 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. Joel Embiid added 16 points for the Sixers but shot just 4-of-21 from the floor.
The Lakers led by six early in the fourth quarter before VJ Edgecombe and Maxey delivered tough buckets to get the Sixers within 96-94. With under three minutes left, Quentin Grimes hit a 3-pointer and Embiid made a jumper to tie it at 105-all.
However, James knocked down a 3-pointer and a contested jumper on back-to-back possessions to restore a five-point cushion with 27.4 seconds left.
Maxey’s 3-pointer with 7.6 seconds remaining made it a two-point game, but Doncic made two free throws with 4.2 seconds left.
James stole the Sixers’ final inbounds pass to officially end the Lakers’ seven-game losing streak in Philadelphia.
The teams were tied at 30-all after one quarter in which Doncic and Maxey led their respective teams with 10 points apiece. Philadelphia led by 10 in the period before Rui Hachimura’s 3-pointer in the waning seconds drew the visitors even.
The Sixers went ahead 46-38 midway through the second quarter before Doncic and Austin Reaves helped get the Lakers within 53-50. Philadelphia rebuilt its advantage to 10 late in the session before Doncic’s 3-pointer brought Los Angeles within 60-53 at the break.
Doncic led all scorers with 19 points at intermission. Maxey scored 15 for Philadelphia.
In the third quarter, it was the Lakers’ turn to take a 10-point lead. However, Maxey and Edgecombe helped Philadelphia close the period on an 8-1 run to get within 87-84 heading into the fourth.
