LeBron debuts in NBA record 23rd season as Pistons win streak hits 11
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles during the second half of a game against the Charlotte Hornets at Crypto.com Arena on December 28, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. The NBA has postponed the January 9, 2025, scheduled game between the Charlotte Hornets and Los Angeles Lakers due to the devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area. The NBA announced the move without naming a new date for the contest, the first of a scheduled five-game homestand for LeBron James and his teammates. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)
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The 40-year-old superstar, a four-time NBA champion and four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, missed the Lakers first 14 games before taking the court at home against Utah.
In his absence, the Lakers went 10-4 to stand fourth in the Western Conference.
James, the NBA's all-time scoring leader, practiced with the Lakers on Monday and had no pain or soreness after his first game-style workout with the club since last season's playoffs.
That set the stage for him to start against the Jazz, breaking a tie with Vince Carter for the most career seasons in NBA history.
The home crowd cheered as James was introduced and moments later James made history when the game tipped off.
The Detroit Pistons stretched their longest win streak since 2008 to 11 games with a 120-112 victory in Atlanta, snapping the Hawks' five-game win streak.
The Pistons, who lead the Eastern Conference at 13-2, got 25 points and 10 assists from Cade Cunningham and 24 points with eight rebounds from Jalen Duren.
Jalen Johnson sparked Atlanta (9-6) with 25 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
At Brooklyn, Jaylen Brown scored 29 points and Payton Pritchard added 22 and 10 rebounds to spark the Boston Celtics in a 113-99 victory over the Nets.
Desmond Bane scored 23 points and reserve Anthony Black added 21 to lead the Orlando Magic over visiting Golden State 121-113.
Stephen Curry led the Warriors (9-7) with 34 points while Jimmy Butler added 33 in a losing cause.
- Hurting Spurs win -
At San Antonio, De'Aaron Fox scored 20 of his 26 points in the second half and Harrison Barnes added 23 to spark the host Spurs over Memphis 111-101.
The Spurs (10-4) were without star big man Victor Wembanyama due to a left calf strain and guard Stephon Castle with a left hip flexor strain while Memphis star guard Ja Morant was sidelined by a right calf strain.
"We're trying to do this as a collective. There's no replacing Vic," Barnes said. "Were just trying to find ways to win, share the ball, move the ball, that's how we'll do that."
Barnes scored the first seven points in an 11-0 game-closing run to secure the victory.
"Harrison Barnes carried us through this. That's just what a vet does," Fox said. "It felt great winning the game with all the guys we have out.
"We have a team and we know that when one guy goes down we have a number of guys that can step up. No one guy will take up the slack for one being out."
ESPN reported that Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss the next one to two weeks of the season with a left groin strain suffered in a Monday loss to Cleveland.
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