LeBron James passes Michael Jordan for fourth place on NBA all-time scoring list
Thursday 7 March 2019 11:30, UK
LeBron James passed Michael Jordan for fourth place on the NBA all-time scoring list as the Los Angeles Lakers fell to 115-99 loss to the Denver Nuggets.
James started the game needing 13 points to surpass Jordan's 32,292 career total.
With the Lakers trailing 55-35 with 6:45 remaining in the second quarter, James hit a mid-range jumper over Nuggets defender Torrey Craig to reach 12 points on the night and pull level with Jordan.
A minute later he received a bounce pass from Rajon Rondo at the top of the key, drove past Nikola Jokic and finished over Craig at the rim to score the basket that took him past the iconic Jordan.
He was fouled by Craig and completed the three-point play at the free throw line.
James was congratulated by Rondo and his other Lakers team-mates as the crowd at Staples Center rose to acknowledge his achievement.
At the next timeout an emotional James sat alone on the bench with his face buried in a towel as a video tribute to him played on the Staples Centre jumbotron.
James' next target on the all-time scoring list is Kobe Bryant, who finished his career with 33,643 points.
Sadly for James, his historic night did not end with a victory. He poured in 31 points on 13-of-22 shooting but could not prevent the Lakers falling to a 115-99 defeat, their fourth successive loss.
Will Barton had 23 points and Nikola Jokic finished with 12 points, 17 rebounds and eight assists for Denver. Jamal Murray and Gary Harris scored 19 points each.
The Nuggets scored 43 points in the first period, a season high for a quarter for them, before James got going. He passed Jordan during a 9-0 Lakers run that got them within 13, but Denver built the lead back up to 18 and when into the half ahead 66-49.
The Lakers kept chipping away and got within 89-87 on two free throws by James with 8:30 left. James missed a three-pointer that would have given the Lakers their lead of the game and Harris hit two three-pointers and converted a three-point play during a 19-4 run that put Denver comfortably ahead late in the game.
