On a challenging Friday night, the Los Angeles Lakers faced defeat in Game 3 against the Minnesota Timberwolves with a score of 116-104, despite Luka Doncic playing through sickness. LeBron James was a standout, dropping 38 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and sinking five three-pointers, setting a new NBA milestone in the process.
LeBron James achieved a historic feat by scoring the highest number of points by any 40-year-old in NBA playoff history. Statmuse reports that he surpassed the previous record set by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who scored 32 points against the Boston Celtics during the 1987 postseason at age 40.
In spite of the loss to the Timberwolves, LeBron James set a new record for the most points scored by a 40-year-old in NBA playoff history. pic.twitter.com/J4NEOCRmrB
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 26, 2025
LeBron delivered another classic performance, but the reality that he can’t carry his team to victory on his own has been evident over the past few years. Even on the verge of a 40-point game, James requires more support, especially with a visibly struggling Doncic, who was unable to help carry the team to a win.
It’s disappointing for the Lakers to not capitalize on such a monumental performance from James. Nevertheless, his achievement has been eternally etched into the history books.
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