James dropped 29 points, including 10 straight late in the fourth quarter to lead the Lakers to a 112-108 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers

The return of the king.

LeBron James’ 1,297-game streak of double-digit points ended Thursday when he scored just eight in the Los Angeles Lakers’ victory over the Toronto Raptors.

James’ 4-for-17 field goal shooting performance illustrated the concerns that the Lakers’ faithful had about the future Hall of Famer’s age and the implications it would have on his role for the Lake Show.

But Sunday night, James put the issues to bed. 

Powered by James’ 29 points, including 10 straight in the dying embers of the fourth quarter, led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 112-108 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers Sunday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

The victory gave the Lakers their No. 17 win of the season and put them back in the win column after falling to the Boston Celtics by 21 points on Friday.

James’ season-high point total came on an efficient clip, washing away the shooting concerns that plagued his three prior performances, where he went a combined 12-for-40 from the field.

The four-time regular season Most Valuable Player went 12-for-17 from the field while also knocking in four of his six 3-point attempts. 

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And to put the cherry on top, James added seven rebounds and six assists while garnering just one turnover. 

James’ 29-point game was necessary for the Lakers’ victory as leading scorers and starting backcourt tandem Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves combined for 12-for-40 from the field. Reaves garnered just 11 points – his lowest total of the season so far – and Dončić posted 31 but shot a measly 37.5% from the field.

However, Dončić’s 30-point night marks his eighth consecutive 30-plus point night, as the guard continues his campaign as one of the league’s most dynamic and impactful players.

Center Deandre Ayton continues to be a consistent contributor from the Lakers’ center spot. He shot a perfect 7-for-7 from the field, garnering 14 points and 12 rebounds – Ayton’s seventh double-double of the season.

Forward Rui Hachimura has also bounced back after dropping zero points in the first game of December, knocking down seven shots from the field for 17 points – his third consecutive double-digit game.

While the starters have contributed to the Lakers all season long, the team’s bench continues to be an area of concern. The Lakers’ reserves combined for just 10 points against the 76ers compared to Philadelphia’s 30 points off the pine.

However, the defense excelled in limiting center and 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid, who scored just 16 points on 4-for-21 shooting from the field.

Instead, guard Tyrese Maxey paced the Philadelphia squad in scoring, knocking down 11 shots from the field for 28 points while also adding nine assists and seven rebounds – illustrating the Lakers’ backcourt’s inability to guard proficient opposing backcourts.

Although Lakers guard Marcus Smart is sidelined due to injury, one of the squad’s main depth pieces and one of the team’s best defensive players in the backcourt.

The Lakers will next play against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday in Los Angeles at Crypto.com Arena.