Doncic Breaks Bryant Points Record For LA Lakers

Luka Doncic broke NBA great Kobe Bryant’s 20-year record for the most points scored by a Los Angeles Lakers player in a calendar month as they overcame the Cleveland Cavaliers 127-113.

Doncic, who returned after a one-game suspension for picking up his 16th technical foul, scored 42 points to take his tally for March to 579 – beating Bryant’s record of 578, which had stood since 2006.

“If you don’t win, it doesn’t really mean anything,” said Doncic after the Lakers secured a 15th victory in 17 games.

“So the run that we’ve been on, it really means a lot. We’ve got to keep playing like that.”

Last month, Doncic became the first player since Bryant to score 60 points in a game for the LA Lakers when they beat the Miami Heat.

LeBron James scored 14 points for the Lakers against the Cavaliers as he also set an NBA record for the most combined regular season and play-off wins.

He achieved his 1,229th victory and surpassed the previous best set by centre Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

“He’s great on both sides of the ball,” said Lakers coach JJ Redick of James. “He’s just doing a little bit of everything at a super-high level for us.

“Luka may get the headlines here and there, AR [Austin Reaves] may get a headline. But really it’s been every single guy, and LeBron has led on that.”

The Lakers, who are third in the Western Conference, had clinched a play-off spot and the Pacific Division title prior to their win as the Phoenix Suns were beaten 115-111 by the Orlando Magic.