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Lakers forward LeBron James scores past Charlotte Hornets center Cody Zeller, right, during the first half of Thursday’s game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, left, scores past Los Angeles Lakers forward Markieff Morris during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 18, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Lakers forward LeBron James dunks for two of his game-high 37 points during the first half of their victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier, left, shoots during the first half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, March 18, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier (3) id defended by Los Angeles Lakers guard Wesley Matthews (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 18, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Charlotte Hornets forward P.J. Washington, right, blocks a shot from Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 18, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball shoots over Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 18, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Charlotte Hornets forward Gordon Hayward (20) defends against Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 18, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier, left, works for a loose ball against Los Angeles Lakers center Damian Jones during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 18, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, back, hugs and Lakers forward LeBron James embrace before Thursday’s game at Staples Center. James had 37 points, eight rebounds and six assists in the Lakers’ 116-105 win. Ball, a former Chino Hills High star, had 26 points and seven assists in his first NBA game in L.A. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James signals to a teammate during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday, March 18, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 18: Miles Bridges #0 of the Charlotte Hornets reacts to his dunk in front of Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second quarter at Staples Center on March 18, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
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Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma (0) grabs a rebound in front of Charlotte Hornets center Cody Zeller during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 18, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Los Angeles Lakers center Montrezl Harrell (15) reacts after getting fouled during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets Thursday, March 18, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 18: LaMelo Ball #2 of the Charlotte Hornets dribbles in front of Damian Jones #30 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter at Staples Center on March 18, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, back left, scores past Charlotte Hornets forward P.J. Washington (25) and forward Miles Bridges (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 18, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 18: Head coach James Borrego of the Charlotte Hornets reacts during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on March 18, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 18: LaMelo Ball #2 of the Charlotte Hornets stands in front of LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter at Staples Center on March 18, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 18: Nate Darling #30 of the Charlotte Hornets knocks the ball from Damian Jones #30 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter at Staples Center on March 18, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 18: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to his foul during the first quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at Staples Center on March 18, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 18: LaMelo Ball #2 of the Charlotte Hornets drives to the basket on Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second quarter at Staples Center on March 18, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 18: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts as he waits to re-enter the game against the Charlotte Hornets during the second quarter at Staples Center on March 18, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 18: Terry Rozier #3 of the Charlotte Hornets reacts to Montrezl Harrell #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers after a Hornets basket during the second quarter at Staples Center on March 18, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 18: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers misses an alley oop during the second quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at Staples Center on March 18, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
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Signs on screens read “Stop Asian Hate” as the Los Angeles Lakers observe a moment of silence before the team’s NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday, March 18, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
LOS ANGELES — Thanks to LeBron James, it’s been a hard week for NBA rookies.
Golden State’s James Wiseman had to feel the brush of air of the 36-year-old James driving by him to the rack, while Nico Mannion had his bones rattled when he ran into James setting his muscular frame down for a screen. Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards saw his 29-point outburst overshadowed as James directed a 137-point effort with a triple-double.
Of the field the Lakers have faced this week, LaMelo Ball of Chino Hills might be the best. The 19-year-old never stopped fighting, scoring the last of his 26 points with 6.6 seconds left and still trying to claw back from down double digits.
These rookies might own the NBA one day. But James still owns it now.
James scored 37 points on a brisk 14-for-22 shooting night as the Lakers knocked off the visiting Charlotte Hornets, 116-105, on Thursday night at Staples Center. It was the team’s fourth straight win since the All-Star break and sixth in eight games. They improved to 11-7 without All-Star Anthony Davis and moved back into second place in the Western Conference, past Phoenix just 1½ games behind the league-leading Utah Jazz.
Another win without Davis and another big night from James pushed coach Frank Vogel to take a few cuts at stumping for James’ candidacy for his fifth MVP award, calling in a “mistake” that the 36-year-old has gone eight years without one despite widespread acknowledgement that he’s still the best player in the game.
“There’s been other players that have been deserving but he’s been the best player in the league for as long as I can remember, maybe since his second, third year in the league,” Vogel said. “It’s just one of those things that’s unfortunate. It’s not right. And he should get it this year. He’s doing it every night and no one is as deserving.”
James provided much of the final thrust in extinguishing Charlotte’s and Ball’s upset bid, especially on defense. A block on Terry Rozier, who finished with 20 points, with 3 minutes left was the kind of momentum seizing defensive play that somehow hasn’t dropped off with Davis off the floor.
Dennis Schröder, wearing golden shoes, added 22 points as the Lakers outscored their young challenges 33-26 in the final frame. Schröder’s 10 points in the fourth quarter led the group.
Even as Vogel reiterated his case for James’ next MVP award, and Kyle Kuzma said James should have won MVP “at least 8, 9, 10 times, everybody knows that,” James was relatively restrained in his campaigning. While he acknowledged he thinks he should have more than the four he has, he figures every great player thinks that he should have more.
Still, adding to the collection has some appeal.
“At my age, what I’m able to do, what I’ve been doing this whole season, what I bring to the table every single night on both sides of the floor, it would mean an unbelievable thing for me, especially at this point in my career,” he said. “So, we just see where the chips may lay.”
James was all smiles moments before tip-off, when he gave the youngest Ball a hug near the 3-point line. Those good vibes translated into his start, as he had 12 points less than six minutes into the game.
The lead didn’t build quite as quickly, but by the third quarter the Lakers managed to get some separation as Schröder slipped into the paint to compensate for an iffy night from the perimeter, and Talen Horton-Tucker, who has seen his minutes tick up recently, started following suit.
None of the Hornets’ top-line players had a particularly fun first half. Big free agent addition Gordon Hayward had just two points at the break, and Ball started out just 2 for 8.
James, however, finished the half with a flourish, dashing into the paint for a buzzer-beating layup with a quick segue into the tunnel with 22 points.
But the Hornets dropped a size out of the intermission, going without Cody Zeller in the starting group. They quickly reaped results on a 19-4 run to tie up the game as Ball knocked in a layup.
After three straight games of the bench batting above its average, some drop-off was palpable. Montrezl Harrell had scored 17 points or more in four straight games, but struggled to just 2 for 6 from the floor and 7 points — the Lakers closed with him on the bench. Coming off two games missed for a concussion, it took reserve guard Alex Caruso some time to get going on offense: He missed his first six shots the game, and the Lakers closed with him anyway for his defense.
The smaller lineup and some of the bench struggles meant that by the third quarter, it was a back-and-forth affair against a Charlotte team that had scrapped past most preseason expectations to find itself in playoff position in the Eastern Conference. Ball had spoken before the game about how he was unfazed for his first meeting with James – the former teammate of his brother Lonzo – and during the contest he showed that same unflappable demeanor while throwing up 3-pointers and tossing cross-court dimes.
“I think he’s damn good to be his age,” said James, who knows something about being a teenage phenom. “His speed, his quickness, his ability to make shots at all facets — in the paint, floaters, 3s. He has a three-tier already. And he’s gonna only get better.”
But the business of winning in the NBA? There’s still plenty of ground for him to make up in that department.
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