LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers asserted their dominance against the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night, securing a commanding 128-111 victory, extending the Raptors’ losing streak to 14 consecutive games.
Post-game, the future Hall-of-Famer expressed his admiration for the city and gratitude towards Toronto fans. “Mutual respect and love every time I come here and play,” James stated. “Throughout my career they’ve shown me nothing but love, even during the battles in the postseason. These fans are always appreciative of me, and I try to give it back to them when I step out on the floor.”
Despite initial concerns surrounding a left ankle injury, James logged 28 minutes and 47 seconds of play, effortlessly contributing 23 points on a remarkable 10-of-12 shooting, accompanied by nine assists and four rebounds.
LeBron on Toronto: “Mutual respect and love every time I come here and play. Throughout my career they’ve shown me nothing but love, even during the battles in the postseason. These fans are always appreciative of me and I try to give it back to them when I step out on the floor”
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) April 3, 2024
James has a storied history against the Raptors, having played 60 regular-season games against them throughout his career, averaging an impressive 27.0 points. Notably, in March 2005, he made NBA history by scoring 56 points in Toronto, becoming the youngest player to achieve a 50-point game at the age of 20. Additionally, he notably faced the Raptors in three consecutive postseason series during his tenure with the Cleveland Cavaliers, achieving significant victories, including an Eastern Conference Final win in 2016 and dominant sweeps in the second round in 2017 and 2018.
Currently positioned ninth in the Western Conference, the Lakers face the prospect of a Play-In Tournament to secure a postseason berth, sitting two and a half games behind the final guaranteed playoff spot. James emphasized the importance of managing his minutes amidst the playoff push, acknowledging the significance of conserving energy for the rigorous schedule ahead.
“The Lakers play the Washington Wizards on the road Wednesday night in a back-to-back, followed by three of the season’s final five games at home,” James noted, emphasizing the critical nature of each game as the season approaches its conclusion.
