LeBron James Sets NBA Record with 1,612 Regular Season Games
Last updated: 22/03/26 8:41am
In a historic night for basketball, LeBron James played his 1,612th regular season game, setting a new NBA record as the Los Angeles Lakers triumphed over the Orlando Magic with a score of 105-104.
During this match, Luka Doncic made a significant impact, scoring 33 points to maintain the Lakers’ nine-game winning streak. However, he received his 16th technical foul, which, unless rescinded, will trigger an automatic one-game suspension.
LeBron’s performance was noteworthy, tallying 12 points, six rebounds, four assists, and three steals. At 41 years old, he surpassed the nearly three-decade-old record previously held by Robert Parrish.
Paolo Banchero, one of seven Orlando Magic players in double figures, contributed 16 points and made a crucial block on LeBron’s shot with just 4.7 seconds remaining. Fortunately for the Lakers, a replay review revealed that the ball did not touch LeBron’s leg, allowing Los Angeles to retain possession.
This led to a decisive gameplay moment, as Marcus Smart delivered a pass to Luke Kennard, who sank a game-winning three-pointer with only 0.6 seconds left on the clock, extending the Lakers’ impressive winning streak.
“He’s had a great season. He’s had a great career,” remarked Lakers head coach JJ Redick following the milestone. “There’s just a deep-rooted love for the game of basketball. To excel for as long as he has, one must possess that passion, combined with the commitment to maintain both physical conditioning and mental readiness.”
Dramatic Finish: Rockets Defeat Heat and Durant Surpasses Jordan
In another thrilling game, the Houston Rockets edged out the Miami Heat 123-122 with a buzzer-beater. Kevin Durant played a critical role, scoring 27 points and surpassing Michael Jordan to claim fifth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
Kevin Durant celebrates after making a 3-point shot during Houston Rockets’ win over Miami Heat.
After Durant’s potential game-winning shot bounced off the rim, the Rockets secured their victory with a tip-in from Armen Thompson as the clock expired.
Durant, now with 32,294 career points, sits just two points ahead of Jordan. His standout performance included back-to-back three-pointers, crucial for extending a lead that saw the Rockets ahead 117-109. Upon surpassing Jordan, Durant briefly lifted his arms in celebration.
For the Heat, Ben Adebayo matched his career highs with 32 points and 21 rebounds, pushing Miami to a fleeting 122-121 lead with just 5.4 seconds remaining. However, the team faced their fourth consecutive loss, despite Adebayo’s remarkable rebound performance, following an incredible 83-point outing against the Washington Wizards earlier this month, the second-highest scoring game in NBA history.
