LeBron Shines as Russell Ties Lakers 3-Point Record in Rout

In a display of offensive prowess, LeBron James put on a show, tallying 25 points, 10 assists, and 7 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers cruised to a 136-105 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night. However, the night truly belonged to D’Angelo Russell, who etched his name in the Lakers’ record books by tying the franchise’s single-season record for 3-pointers made.

Russell’s sharpshooting exploits saw him drain 6 triples against the Hawks, bringing his season tally to 183 and matching Nick Van Exel’s hallowed mark set in the 1994-95 campaign. The guard’s hot hand was on full display, highlighted by a jaw-dropping buzzer-beater from downtown to end the third quarter, followed by two more long-range bombs early in the fourth to tie the record before the Lakers’ reserves took over.

“That’s really cool, honestly,” Russell remarked, clearly savoring the achievement. “Just to get credit for your game and what you work to do and showcase it every night, and then to get credit for something like this, it’s just really cool.”

Alongside Russell’s historic performance, Anthony Davis turned in another solid outing, contributing 22 points and 15 rebounds as the Lakers snapped a two-game skid and secured their 13th win in their last 20 outings since suffering a loss in Atlanta late in January.

Despite nursing a scratched cornea in his left eye from Saturday’s loss to Golden State, Davis opted to play without protective goggles, drawing a grin as he reminisced, “I’ve been through that phase in high school. I’m out of that phase. Obviously (I would have) if the doctors had told me I needed it, but I didn’t need it.”

The Lakers’ victory not only halted their mini-slump but also propelled them back into the ninth spot in the tightly contested Western Conference standings, courtesy of Golden State’s loss to New York on the same night.

While Russell and Davis shone brightly, it was the evergreen LeBron James who once again showcased his enduring brilliance. The 38-year-old superstar’s performance over the past two games has seen him amass 65 points on a scorching 25-of-37 shooting, leading Davis to marvel, “Bron is Bron, and it’s that time of the year. He’s shooting the ball extremely well. He’s been in attack mode, finding guys. He’s been locking in defensively.”

For the Hawks, Jalen Johnson led the way with 25 points, while Bogdan Bogdanovic chipped in 17. However, the absence of Trae Young, who has now missed 12 straight games following hand surgery, proved too significant a hurdle to overcome.

“I thought we were ready to play, (but) there’s two Hall of Fame players that were unselfish, and I thought they played really well,” conceded Hawks coach Quin Snyder. “It’s hard to sustain a defensive effort against a team that’s playing the way they are offensively. When the ball isn’t going in, it’s even harder. They made us pay for any mistake we made.”

As the Lakers gradually pulled away throughout the contest, hitting an impressive 60% of their shots in the first half, the game took a concerning turn when Johnson went down with an apparent ankle injury with just under seven minutes remaining. Although he was able to leave the court under his own power, Snyder remained uncertain about the severity of the setback.

With the win, the Lakers not only solidified their playoff positioning but also served notice of their offensive potency when firing on all cylinders. As the season’s stretch run approaches, LeBron James and his supporting cast appear poised to make a strong push for postseason glory.