LeBron James made NBA history Saturday night by playing in his 1,612th regular season game, breaking a record that stood for nearly three decades. The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic 105-104 on a last-second three-pointer by Luke Kennard.
ORLANDO, Fla. — Basketball history was made Saturday night as LeBron James established a new NBA milestone by appearing in his 1,612th regular season contest, while Luke Kennard delivered a clutch three-pointer with just 0.6 seconds remaining to give the Los Angeles Lakers a dramatic 105-104 comeback victory over the Orlando Magic.
The Lakers extended their winning streak to nine games, with significant contributions coming from multiple players. However, the team may face a setback as a player received his 16th technical foul of the season, which triggers an automatic one-game suspension unless the league reverses the decision.
On his historic evening, James contributed 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals while surpassing the record previously held by Robert Parish for nearly three decades.
Orlando’s Paolo Banchero topped the Magic’s balanced scoring attack with 16 points, leading seven teammates who reached double figures. In the game’s crucial final moments, Banchero blocked a James shot attempt that appeared to go out of bounds with 4.7 seconds left on the clock. Following an official replay review, referees determined the ball had not touched James’ foot before crossing the boundary, allowing Los Angeles to retain possession. This pivotal ruling enabled Marcus Smart to find Kennard for the game-winning basket.
Austin Reaves provided offensive firepower for the Lakers with 26 points in the victory.
The contest featured multiple momentum shifts, with James scoring six consecutive points during the third quarter to help Los Angeles build an eight-point advantage. However, Orlando managed to take a five-point lead entering the final minute of play. The defeat marked the fourth consecutive loss for the Magic.
Looking ahead, the Lakers will travel to Detroit for their next contest on Monday, while the Magic return home to face Indiana on the same evening.
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