![\"Los](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Sharpe-AP-Photo-by-Frank-Franklin-II-600x400.jpg\")
Nets back-up center Day\u2019Ron Sharpe showed no quit after the Lakers ran out to a 39-point lead in the first half Tuesday. AP Photo by Frank Franklin II<\/p>\nLeBron James soars for two of his game-high 25 points Tuesday in what may have been his final game in Brooklyn. AP Photo by Frank Franklin II\n<\/p>\n
If this was the last time LeBron James visits Downtown\u2019s Barclays Center, the 41-year-old NBA legend certainly made it memorable.<\/p>\n
James scored a game-high 25 points, handed out seven assists and picked up three steals before a sellout crowd of 18,248 on the corner of Atlantic and Flatbush on Tuesday night, lifting the Los Angeles Lakers to a 125-109 victory over the slumping Nets.<\/p>\n
Recently selected to his 22nd consecutive NBA All-Star Game, James has not yet announced whether or not this will be his final campaign.<\/p>\n
Our borough\u2019s basketball fanatics showed up in droves just in case the league\u2019s all-time leading scorer was bidding farewell to Brooklyn.<\/p>\n
The Nets (13-36) didn\u2019t bother to show up until midway through the second quarter, trailing by as many as 39 in the first half after getting outscored 45-23 by James and company in the opening 12 minutes.<\/p>\n
The Lakers made 15 of their first 18 shots, getting to the basket with ease while the Nets went stone cold after rookie Egor D\u00ebmin opened the scoring with a 24-footer.<\/p>\n
At least Brooklyn coach Jordi Fern\u00e1ndez saw some fight out of his team two nights after watching them submit following a brutal first quarter in Detroit that resulted in a 130-77 loss to the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe saw some positive things, but obviously that first quarter is unacceptable,\u201d Fern\u00e1ndez said after accusing some of his players of quitting in Motown.<\/p>\n
James, who is eager to capture his fifth NBA championship on the way out, went 10-of-16 from the field and also fed teammates Luka Doncic and Jake LaRavia for a series of fast-break baskets.<\/p>\n
Doncic, the league\u2019s leading scorer, finished with 24 points and LaRavia added 18 for Los Angeles, which finished 5-3 on its season-high eight-game road trip.<\/p>\n
Nets back-up center Day\u2019Ron Sharpe showed no quit after the Lakers ran out to a 39-point lead in the first half Tuesday. AP Photo by Frank Franklin II<\/p>\n
Michael Porter Jr., snubbed thus far from All-Star consideration, returned from a two-game absence due to personal reasons and amassed 21 points and 10 rebounds.<\/p>\n
Veteran reserves Day\u2019Ron Sharpe and Ziaire Williams helped the Nets pretty up the score in the second half, putting up 19 and 17 points, respectively.<\/p>\n
Sharpe grabbed a game-high 14 boards, including a whopping 10 off the offensive glass.<\/p>\n
Brooklyn\u2019s porous shooting effort doubtlessly helped the back-up center gather misses off clanged attempts.<\/p>\n
The Nets were 2-of-20 from beyond the arc at one point before finishing 10-of-41.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe shots didn\u2019t go in in the first half, and I know those were good looks for the most part,\u201d noted Fern\u00e1ndez, who watched his squad drop to 3-16 in the new year after a heartening 7-4 December inspired hope of a more competitive rebuild.<\/p>\n
James drained three straight free throws to give Los Angeles (30-19) a 109-81 cushion with just under nine minutes to play before leaving to a rousing ovation.<\/p>\n
He did stick around to watch his son, Bronny, get a cheer for checking in during extended garbage time in the final five minutes.<\/p>\n
The 21-year-old James put up four points, handed out an assist and gobbled up a steal while the Nets were doing some cosmetic work on the final score, outpointing the Lakers 35-25 in the final period.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re playing hard, they should play hard at all times, whether it\u2019s one minute, five, 20, 30. We\u2019ll work on being better on those things,\u201d said Fern\u00e1ndez, who will have to wait out Thursday\u2019s NBA trade deadline to see if his roster undergoes another overhaul.<\/p>\n
Porter, Sharpe, Nic Claxton and Cam Thomas could be on other teams\u2019 wish lists, but general manager Sean Marks would have to further decimate Fern\u00e1ndez\u2019s roster in the hopes of acquiring more draft picks.<\/p>\n
D\u00ebmin, the first of Brooklyn\u2019s historic haul of five first-rounders, had 11 points on 4-of-11 shooting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The 19-year-old had his streak of 34 consecutive games with at least one 3-pointer snapped in Detroit, but buried three from long range against the Lakers.<\/p>\n
He also committed six of the Nets\u2019 20 turnovers, resulting in 23 points for Los Angeles, which beat Brooklyn by a 31-18 count on the break.<\/p>\n
Losers of nine of their last 10, the Nets will try to get off the deck in Orlando on Thursday night at 7 p.m.<\/p>\n
The game will air locally on the YES Network.<\/p>\n
![\"Los](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bronny-AP-Photo-by-Frank-Franklin-II-600x400.jpg\")
Nets fans got a kick out of seeing Bronny James, the 21-year-old son of LeBron, check in for fourth-quarter action Tuesday at Barclays Center. AP Photo by Frank Franklin II<\/p>\n
NOTHING BUT NET: Lakers guard Austin Reaves returned from a calf injury to score 15 points off the bench in his first action since Christmas Day. James was pleased to have him back in the fold. \u201cIt was just a boost for all of us, especially at the end of a road trip, to get a guy like that back,\u201d James told the Associated Press. \u201cObviously his rhythm is a little off, but he still made an impact.\u201d \u2026 After visiting the Magic, the Nets will kick off a three-game homestand vs. Washington at Barclays on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFebruary 3 | \t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJanuary 28 | \t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ultima-reader-response.png\"\/)
<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Nets](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Fernandez-AP-Photo-by-Duane-Burleson-250x250.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFern\u00e1ndez admits that Nets \u2018quit\u2019 in Motown<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBy John Torenli, Sports Editor\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Brawl-AP-Photo-by-Rick-Scuteri-250x250.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNets fight to finish, but flame out in Phoenix<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJohn Torenli, Sports Editor\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
![\"Los](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Harden-AP-Photo-by-Jae-C.-Hong-1-250x250.jpg\")
![\"Karl-Anthony](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Towns-AP-Photo-by-Frank-Franklin-II-250x250.jpg\")