LeBron James scored 36 points (9 during a 13-0 run in the first quarter), and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Utah Jazz 128-117.
The Lakers took control with a 20-4 run in the first quarter and led by as many as 14.
The Jazz got within 117-115 on Kelly Olynyk’s driving layup with 3:53 to play, but James answered with a 30-foot 3-pointer, and the Jazz got no closer than 120-117.
During clutch time, the Lakers outscored the Jazz 10-7. James scored 6 of the Lakers’ 10 on 2 for 4 shooting.
The Lakers had 7 players in double-digit scoring.
For the Jazz, Kris Dunn had a season-high 26 points (16 in the paint), 10 rebounds and 8 assists, and Luka Samanic went 0 for 8 from 3. Olynyk scored 23 points on 9 for 13 shooting. Simone Fontecchio had 20 points and 9 rebounds off the bench. The Jazz had 3 20-point scorers.
The Lakers shot 48.5% from the field and 40.0% from 3 to the Jazz’s 50.5% and 28.6%. The Jazz got 7 offensive rebounds, about 5 fewer than usual for the shots they missed. They outscored the Lakers 76-50 in the paint. The Lakers’ starters outscored the Jazz 44-34 in 13 minutes together.