NBA results: Cavaliers vs Lakers, full scores and standings as LeBron James, Luka Doncic react

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LeBron James says the “chemistry is high” at the Los Angeles Lakers after helping his team beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 127-113 on a night when the 41-year-old broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s NBA wins record and teammate Luka Doncic eclipsed the most points ever scored by a Lakers player in a calendar month.

Doncic returned from a one-game suspension to score 42 points and surpass NBA icon Kobe Bryant’s record in a month of 578 – set in 2006 – as the Lakers earned a 12th win from their last 13 games.

“We’re in a good place right now,” said James, who opted into a $52.6 million contract for his 23rd NBA season.

“Everyone loves being around each other: we love playing for one another, we love being off the floor with one another. It’s a good, tight-knit group and we’ve got to carry that for the rest of the season.”

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Cavaliers vs Lakers: Will LeBron James stay in LA?

Despite his apparent contentment, debate is growing around wheter James, who will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, will remain with the Lakers.

“I think he’d prefer to stay in LA, but I don’t see him taking that much of a cut,” former Lakers player Danny Green told ESPN.

“He’s not prioritizing his contract as the main thing, but he’s not going to take that much less of a deal to stay home.

“And he shouldn’t, because of what he’s done for the organization and the game. Of the teams that are able to afford him, Cleveland is where he should end up.”

Reporter Dave McMenamin said the Lakers’ “interest” would depend on “what the number is”. “The Lakers are going to want to fit this team around Luka Doncic,” predicted McMenamin.

“It doesn’t mean that LeBron can’t be part of that mix, but certainly not at the $52.6m contract he’s making right now.

“If LeBron chooses to prioritize his salary, there will be other options for him including Cleveland. There could be a sign and trade scenario where Cleveland gets off of someone like [center] Jarrett Allen’s contract.

“The Lakers [then] get another big name who’s been an All-Star [in Allen]. If it’s about a [James] retirement tour, no place will bring back the feels, the memories, the full-circle moment like Cleveland would.”

Lakers head coach JJ Redick appears to be keen to keep James. “He’s been great on both sides of the ball,” said Redick.

“He’s just doing a little bit of everything at a super high level. Luka may get headlines here and there… but really it’s been every single guy contributing to winning. LeBron has led on that.”

Could Luka Doncic be the NBA MVP?

Doncic’s spectacular form could strengthen his chances of being named this season’s Most Valuable Player, although the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the San Antonio Suns’ Victor Wembanyama and the Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic are firmly in the running.

“I’m not the one voting, but I’ve been playing pretty well and we’ve been winning,” said Doncic. “That’s all I’ve got to say.

“If some guys play well and others don’t, we don’t win games. We play for each other.”

Asked about his understanding with James, Doncic said he does not “know exactly how” the pair combine so effectively at their best.

“We figured out how to play together,” he added. “Our ceiling is still higher than what we are doing now.”

NBA results: Pistons clinch title, Rockets vs Knicks

Here are the latest NBA results, which also featured the Detroit Pistons beating the Toronto Raptors 127-116 to win the Central Division title.

Away Home Result
Washington Wizards LA Lakers 101-120
Phoenix Suns Memphis Grizzlies 131-105
Detroit Pistons OKC Thunder 110-114 (OT)
Cleveland Cavaliers Utah Jazz 122-113
Minnesota Timberwolves Dallas Mavericks 124-94
Chicago Bulls San Antonio Spurs 114-129
Philadelphia 76ers Miami Heat 109-119
Boston Celtics Atlanta Hawks 102-112
Toronto Raptors Detroit Pistons 116-127
NY Knicks Houston Rockets 94-111
Charlotte Hornets Brooklyn Nets 117-86
Portland Trail Blazers LA Clippers 114-104
Phoenix Suns Orlando Magic 111-115
Milwaukee Bucks Dallas Mavericks 123-99

Full NBA standings

Here’s the Eastern Conference, with the teams set for the play-offs in bold.

Team W L PCT GB
1 Detroit Pistons 55 21 .724
2 Boston Celtics 50 25 .667 4.5
3 New York Knicks 48 28 .632 7.0
4 Cleveland Cavaliers 47 29 .618 8.0
5 Atlanta Hawks 43 33 .566 12.0
6 Toronto Raptors 42 33 .560 12.5
7 Philadelphia 76ers 41 34 .547 13.5
8 Orlando Magic 40 35 .533 14.5
9 Miami Heat 40 36 .526 15.0
10 Charlotte Hornets 40 36 .526 15.0
11 Milwaukee Bucks 30 45 .400 24.5
12 Chicago Bulls 29 46 .387 25.5
13 Brooklyn Nets 18 58 .237 37.0
14 Washington Wizards 17 58 .227 37.5
15 Indiana Pacers 17 58 .227 37.5

The Western Conference stands like this.

Team W L PCT GB
1 Oklahoma City Thunder 60 16 .789
2 San Antonio Spurs 57 18 .760 2.5
3 Los Angeles Lakers 50 26 .658 10.0
4 Denver Nuggets 48 28 .632 12.0
5 Minnesota Timberwolves 46 29 .613 13.5
6 Houston Rockets 46 29 .613 13.5
7 Phoenix Suns 42 34 .553 18.0
8 LA Clippers 39 37 .513 21.0
9 Portland Trail Blazers 39 38 .506 21.5
10 Golden State Warriors 36 39 .480 23.5
11 Memphis Grizzlies 25 50 .333 34.5
12 New Orleans Pelicans 25 51 .329 35.0
13 Dallas Mavericks 24 52 .316 36.0
14 Utah Jazz 21 55 .276 39.0
15 Sacramento Kings 19 57 .250 41.0

NBA playoffs bracket: How the picture looks

If the regular season had ended after the latest round of games, the Miami Heat would meet the Hornets and the 76ers would encounter the Orlando Magic in play-in matches.

The Portland Trail Blazers would face the Golden State Warriors and the Phoenix Suns would also take on the LA Clippers in those games.

The confirmed first round play-off games would include the Denver Nuggets against the Timberwolves, the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Atlanta Hawks, the Lakers against the Houston Rockets and the New York Knicks against the Toronto Raptors.

You can find the latest play-off picture on the NBA’s site.

Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: 101greatgoals.com