CLEVELAND — Anthony Davis scored 23 of his season-high 32 points in the second half and grabbed 13 rebounds, LeBron James had 22 points and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 121-115 on Saturday night.
James added six rebounds, six assists and two steals in beating Cleveland for the 18th time in 21 career games. The 39-year-old attended St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in nearby Akron and spent 11 seasons with the Cavaliers, leading them to the 2016 NBA championship.
Austin Reeves had 15 points and 10 assists, Christian Wood scored 13 points and Max Christie had 12 for the Lakers, who won their third straight on the road. Los Angeles shot 52.2%, with Reaves, Wood and Jaxson Hayes combining to make 14 of 20 shots off the bench.
Donovan Mitchell, who missed the previous four games with a right hamstring strain, went 4 of 18 from the field and had 22 points and six assists for Cleveland. Jarrett Allen added 21 points and 14 rebounds, and Evan Mobley finished with 18 points and six assists.
Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland did not play in the second half because of a neck strain, caused by an awkward collision with Christie in the first quarter.
The Lakers built an eight-point advantage in the fourth, but the Cavaliers pulled within 113-112 on Mobley’s basket while being fouled. Mobley missed the subsequent free throw and James followed with a layup and dunk to increase Los Angeles’ lead to 117-112 with 1:12 left.
James extended his league-record streak of double-digit scoring performances to 1,167, raising his point total to an unprecedented 39,060 over 21 NBA seasons. He is Cleveland’s career leader in points, rebounds, assists, steals, minutes and games.
Earlier in the day, a museum dedicated to his life, “LeBron James’ Home Court,” opened at his family foundation’s House Three Thirty in Akron. Admission is $23, matching his uniform number.
“He’s a great young man who has done tremendous things on the basketball floor, in the world of business and in education,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said.
Cleveland had its highest-scoring quarter of the season, leading 40-35 after the first, and its top-scoring half as it carried a 71-70 advantage into the break.
UP NEXT
Lakers: Visit Philadelphia on Monday night.
Cavaliers: Host Toronto on Sunday night.
