The Los Angeles Lakers went 3-0 for the first time in 13 years, and it came in dramatic fashion. The Lakers won a thriller against their division rivals, the Sacramento Kings, 131-127.

The Lakers, who have struggled against the Kings for the past few years, had a few hiccups but eventually put the game together to beat their California counterparts.

LA needed everything they could get from their superstar duo, and boy did they get that and more. Lakers superstar LeBron James looked a little sluggish in the first two games of the season, but that was the exact opposite in the third game, especially in the fourth quarter.

The Lakers entered the fourth quarter down seven after being up by as many as 15 points, and then LeBron happened. James went wild in the fourth quarter, helping the Lakers come back with 16 points in the final quarter.

James lit up the scoreboard to start the fourth quarter and was responsible for 18 points during the Lakers’ 21-0 run to start the fourth, scored 11 straight, then assisted on a Jaxson dunk Hayes before scoring five more.

James could do no wrong. The team wanted more from James and was reluctant to take James out during his scoring surge. After the game, Lakers superstar Anthony Davis talked about it in the locker room.

“Just when you think he’s slowing down, man, he keeps showing the world why he’s the greatest,” Davis. said in the locker room. “To go forward, he looked at the bench and tried to get out of the game. I said, “You’re not going out.” He goes out and hits another 3. He never ceases to amaze any of us because we just know what he’s capable of and what he’s capable of doing.”

LA outscored Sacramento 44-33 in the fourth quarter thanks to James’ outburst. He shot 6 of 6 from the field and had 16 points in the final frame.

In the end, James finished the game with 32 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists to earn his first triple-double of the 2024-25 NBA season. It was fun for the crowd and necessary for victory; however, James said he doesn’t have to play at that high level all four quarters.

“Look, I could do this at 22, but at almost 40, I don’t have to do it for four quarters,” James. said. “I have the luxury of having an MVP-caliber player next to me (in Anthony Davis). AR (Austin Reaves) can make it work. D-Lo (D’Angelo Russell) can catch fire. Rui (Hachimura) been consistent and can go and score in groups as well.

“So this team is not built for me to have 16-point quarters in all four quarters. That’s not the way it’s built and it shouldn’t be. We’re a team and we all play together.”

James showed the NBA world why he is still among the best players in the league today.

In two months he will be 40 years old.

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