LeBron James made his long-awaited season debut for the Los Angeles Lakers in a 140\u2013126 win over the Utah Jazz, returning after missing the first 14 games with sciatica. In his 23rd NBA season \u2014 an unprecedented milestone \u2014 James logged 30 minutes, recording 11 points and 12 assists. His 11-point performance also extended one of the most remarkable streaks in basketball history: 1,293 consecutive games scoring in double figures, the longest such run ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Lakers initially trailed Utah, but a dominant third quarter shifted the game. Luka Don\u010di\u0107 led the charge with 37 points and 10 assists, while Austin Reaves added 26 and DeAndre Ayton delivered a strong 20-point, 14-rebound night. Despite big scoring nights from Utah\u2019s Keyonte George (34 points) and Lauri Markkanen (31 points), the Jazz couldn\u2019t keep pace once Los Angeles found its rhythm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
James\u2019 return carries implications that go beyond the box score. The Lakers opened the season 10-4 without him, but having their full roster available signals a turning point as they push toward long-term competitiveness and postseason positioning. How James\u2019 health holds up \u2014 and how he meshes with Don\u010di\u0107, Reaves, and Ayton \u2014 will be a major storyline for the Lakers moving forward.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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