Lakers vs Pelicans: LeBron James becomes first NBA player to score 50,000 points

LeBron James finished with 34 points and became the first NBA player to score 50,000 combined points in the regular season and playoffs as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Lakers extended their longest winning streak in four years to seven games with a 136-115 victory over the Pelicans on Tuesday night (Wednesday AEDT).

Luka Doncic had 30 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds for the Lakers (39-21), who have won 17 of 20 to move into second place in the Western Conference.

Jaxson Hayes had a season-high 19 points and 10 rebounds as Los Angeles won their second straight without injured starters Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura.

Zion Williamson scored 37 points for the 14th-placed Pelicans (17-45).

James surpassed his latest milestone with a three-pointer early in the first quarter.

Lakers fans gave a standing ovation moments later to James, who acknowledged it with a wave of his hand.

The Lakers are 11-2 since acquiring Doncic and 7-2 with the Slovenian superstar in uniform.

Doncic’s 17 points in the first were his most in a quarter this season.

James is the only player in NBA history to top 45,000 combined points, let alone 50,000. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is second with 44,149.

In Atlanta, Dyson Daniels produced another strong all-round game but there was no denying Giannis Antetokounmpo as the Greek superstar led his surging Milwaukee Bucks to a tight 127-121 win over the Hawks.

Australian starter Daniels scored 16 points, grabbed nine rebounds, dished out six assists and helped himself to two steals for the Hawks.

But Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to victory with 26 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists - his seventh triple-double of the season.

Damian Lillard scored 23 points for the Bucks, who have won three straight and seven of eight. They remained fourth in the Eastern Conference, with the same record as fifth-placed Indiana (35-25).

Trae Young led Atlanta with 28 points and 13 assists for the Hawks (28-34), who are ninth in the East.

In Chicago, Donovan Mitchell scored 28 points and Jarrett Allen added 25 points and 17 rebounds as the NBA-best Cleveland Cavaliers won their 11th straight game, handing the Bulls a 139-117 home hiding.

Darius Garland added 19 points on 7-of-22 shooting for the Cavs (51-10), who fell behind by 15 points in the first half but still found a way to extend their third double-digit winning streak of the season.

Chicago (24-38), without their in-form Australian star Josh Giddey (left quadriceps contusion), were led by Coby White’s 25 points.

In New York, Stephen Curry had 28 points and nine assists at Madison Square Garden as his Golden State Warriors beat the Knicks 114-102.

Tyrese Haliburton scored 28 points as the Indiana Pacers recovered after blowing a 17-point third-quarter lead to beat the Houston Rockets 115-102.

In Philadelphia, Anthony Edwards scored 18 points and Naz Reid added 23 for visiting Minnesota, who pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the short-handed 76ers 126-112.

In Florida, Ja’Kobe Walter swished a contested three-pointer with 0.5 seconds remaining as the visiting Toronto Raptors edged out Orlando Magic 114-113.

In San Antonio, Devin Vassell had a career-high 37 points along with 10 rebounds as the Spurs rolled to a 127-113 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.

And in Phoenix, Kevin Durant scored 34 points as the Suns rallied from a 23-point deficit late in the third quarter to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 119-117.