'We love when he's aggressive': LeBron's spark helps Lakers keep Zion and Pelicans at bay

LOS ANGELES – The crowd went into a frenzy over a moment that will replay endlessly and eventually become a poster.

LeBron James received Alex Caruso’s between-the-legs bounce pass, then soared and extended for a one-handed dunk over Pelicans guard and former teammate Josh Hart.

That play took only five seconds to unfold. Yet, the play captured how James led the Lakers to a 118-109 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday at Staples Center with a season-high 40-point performance. The 35-year-old James relentlessly attacked a Pelicans team that seemed intent on doing the same thing with rookie Zion Williamson.

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“AC has eyes in the back of his head and for me to be able to finish it, it’s a good play for our ballclub,” James said. “A momentum play. Our fans loved it and it’s great to be a part of it.”

James also opened the third quarter scoring 11 consecutive points. He waived off a JaVale McGee screen so he could go one-on-one against Williamson before nailing a 3-pointer over him. He threw down a two-handed dunk over Hart. Later, he threw down a double-pump dunk over Hart as well. Add up James’ numbers and he logged his first 40-point performance since Dec. 5, 2018 while also recording eight assists.

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“We love when he’s aggressive,” Lakers forward Anthony Davis said. “One, he’s able to score at will. Two, he’s a willing passer and it’s our job to make shots for him. We feel good when he kicks it to us, and we’re able to make shots. Because we know it’s just going to open it up for him.”

Perhaps the 35-year-old James seemed motivated to play this aggressively in a game the Lakers and Pelicans each seemed eager to make a statement. Williamson and James complimented each other’s games, but neither player indicated they have much of a relationship. Fourth-year forward Brandon Ingram had 34 points and has appeared increasingly assertive after showing mixed progress during his first three season with the Lakers before they traded him to New Orleans. And Davis haunted his former team with 21 points and 14 boards.

All of those subplots might be true. It explains why the Lakers and Pelicans would make for a competitive playoff series. But James insisted he is not obsessed with those games within a game. As James insisted, “satisfaction for me always comes in a win, no matter how well I’m playing.”

Therefore, James attacked the Pelicans so relentlessly because they went under on pick-and-rolls. James punished New Orleans with his outside shooting (5-of-11) when they gave him room to operate. If not, James simply passed the ball. In other words, James played as he has for most of his NBA career.

“The No. 1 thing is not his stat line or anything. It’s winning the game,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. “So we’ll continue to coach him. He uses what he needs and finds his ways and opportunities to impact the game in only a way that he can. He’s delivering special performances for us all season. We don’t take it for granted. We are where we are in large part of what he does.”

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