About Last Night

About Last Night: LeBron takes talents back to South Beach

The King drops 51 on Miami, while the other Florida team continued its promising start

Matt Petersen, NBA.com

November 19, 2018 4:28 AM

Time in the basketball world passes quickly. LeBron James was a ringless, 25-year-old superstar when his infamous Decision saw him jump from Cleveland to Miami in 2010. Eight straight Finals appearances, three championships and two more team changes later, the King was back in South Beach on Sunday as a nearly 34-year-old Laker.

Heat fans probably felt the only difference was James’ jersey. Other than that, it looked like the exact same LeBron.

The devastating dunks in transition. The impossible-to-guard fadeaways. The selective and timely 3-pointers. All of it was working for James, who wound up scorching his old Florida playground for 51 points on 19-for-31 shooting.

The performance was James’ 12th with at least 50 points, making him just the fifth player in league history to score 50-plus with three different teams. (The others: Wilt Chamberlain, Moses Malone, Bernard King and Jamal Crawford.)

More importantly for the Lakers, James’ effort lifted them to their fifth win in six games after a 2-5 start. Believe it or not, L.A. is now just two games out of first place in the Western Conference as the Warriors’ slide continued in San Antonio.

As for the Heat, Sunday was a reminder of what the franchise enjoyed for nearly half a decade: Complete dominance by the best player of his generation.

Impressive impressions

Before this season began, Las Vegas had Orlando and Memphis each winning less than 35 games.

Less than 20 days into November, both teams are on pace to make the over look like a good bet.

The Grizzlies (10-5) logged another quality win over Minnesota with the ageless Marc Gasol pouring in 26 points and 13 rebounds. Beyond him and veteran guard Mike Conley, Memphis’ biggest contributors are fourth overall pick Jaren Jackson Jr. and journeymen Garrett Temple and Shelvin Mack.

And yes, that’s the Grizzlies you’re seeing tied for second-best in the West.

Back in Florida, Orlando is making noise of its own behind a career year from soon-to-be free agent Nikola Vucevic (20.4 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 1.1 bpg, 1.1 spg, 55.6 FG%, 45.2 FG%). The Magic’s win over the Knicks pushed them back above .500, a place they left for good exactly one year ago today.

The no Curry effect

The Warriors have been a mess since Stephen Curry exited a Nov. 8 game against the Bucks with a groin strain, losing five of their past seven while seeing on-and-off-court drama flair up between Kevin Durant and Draymond Green.

Golden State’s latest setback — a 104-92 loss to the 7-7 Spurs — punctuated the team’s shortcomings sans Curry:

Get well soon, Steph.

Coach Rondo

If he can’t play, Rajon Rondo still wants to be involved. That includes taking up a coach’s clipboard during in-game huddles.

Rajon Rondo (broken hand) serving as a de facto assistant coach in this game.
He’s in the coaches huddles, has the clipboard, is standing during play – the whole deal. pic.twitter.com/4gzfCDg1qb

— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) November 19, 2018

Unfortunately for him, he doesn’t yet have leave to take full control of the coaching process.

Asked Luke Walton about Rondo being with the coaches tonight. He said Rajon talked too much, had to tell him if he wanted to stay in the huddles, he had to be quiet 😂
Rondo: “yeah he told me to shut the *** up”

— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) November 19, 2018