LeBron James delivered another vintage performance during Thursday’s 119-103 road victory over the Golden State Warriors.
With both sides shorthanded, the 22-time All-Star stepped up to help snap the Los Angeles Lakers’ three-game losing streak and fortify their push for a top-four finish in the Western Conference, leaving the NBA world admiring his sustained greatness.
LeBron James Continues Turning Back the Clock for Undermanned Lakers
James returned from a one-game hiatus after sitting out Tuesday’s 123-87 blowout home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder to manage left foot soreness. However, the four-time MVP’s co-stars Luka Dončić (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) remained on the shelf after last week’s devastating injury setbacks.
After going 15-2 in March, the Lakers dropped their first three games since losing their star backcourt duo, fading in the West standings with the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets riding 10-game and eight-game winning streaks, respectively.
With Houston (51-29) taking a half-game edge over LA earlier in the night, James and Co. needed to take care of business against the Stephen Curry-less Warriors to move back into the No. 4 seed.
James responded with a game-high 26 points, 8 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 steals, and 3 3-pointers, shooting a blistering 11-for-17 overall (64.7%). The 41-year-old put his timeless versatility on display, scoring inside and out, and facilitating for his teammates, including his son, Bronny James.
The elder James’ night was highlighted by a historic fast-break slam off a feed from Bronny in the first quarter and an acrobatic fourth-quarter layup to help put Golden State away. He also threw down an emphatic one-handed dunk in the final period, leaving no doubt about the evening’s outcome.
LeBron flirted with a triple-double in the Bay!
👑 26 PTS (11-17 FGM)
👑 8 REB
👑 11 AST
👑 2 STL
👑 3 3PMLakers get the win and remain the #4 seed in the West 🔥 pic.twitter.com/81ov6C5lpe
— NBA (@NBA) April 10, 2026
James’ near triple-double promptly sparked widespread praise on X.
“BRON BAG WORK IN GOLDEN STATE 👑 … ‘First Option Bron’ still got it 🔥,” Bleacher Report captioned his stat line.
“TIMELESS. 👑” Hoop Central reacted.
“VINTAGE LEBRON TONIGHT 🔥,” LA fan page LakeShowYo raved.
“LeBron just had 5 of his 11 assists in the first 6 minutes of the 4th, plus 6 of his 26 points, to essentially put the game away for the Lakers,” Spectrum SportsNet’s Mike Trudell wrote.
“The year is 2045, and LeBron James is still dominating the Warriors,” Lakers Nation’s Daniel Starkand quipped, referencing the sides’ longstanding rivalry.
With the decisive win, the Lakers (51-29) moved back into a tie with the Rockets, reclaiming the fourth seed via their tiebreaker. They have just two outings remaining to hold onto the spot and clinch home-court advantage in Round 1 of the playoffs, beginning with Friday’s home clash against the Phoenix Suns (44-36).
