Doncic’s 53 points lift Lakers; Cavs spoil LeBron’s return as 76ers fall in NBA wrap

Doncic drives Lakers victory

Doncic’s long-range shot just before halftime brought the Lakers within seven points of Portland. Los Angeles then surged after the break to secure a 124-118 win in the NBA Cup group stage.

The 53-point performance extended a notable run: Doncic has reached 40 points in six of his past seven games. He also became the fourth Lakers player to score at least 40 in four consecutive regular-season games, joining Elgin Baylor, Kobe Bryant and George Mikan.

Cleveland spoils James’s return

James made his first trip to Cleveland as a member of the 76ers, who lost 119-95 to the Cavaliers. The defeat ended Philadelphia’s five-game winning streak, while fans cheered James as he left late in the fourth quarter.

Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points, including 10 in the opening quarter, and Evan Mobley added 22. The Cavaliers outrebounded Philadelphia 56-42 despite Jarrett Allen’s injury absence; Joel Embiid made none of his nine field-goal attempts and finished with six points, all from free throws.

Other teams post wins

Boston defeated its opponent wire to wire, building a lead as large as 46 points. Jayson Tatum led all scorers with 34 points and made five three-pointers. Victor Wembanyama scored 30 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as San Antonio beat Sacramento 124-109. Oklahoma City extended its regular-season winning streak against Memphis to 13 games, with Ajay Mitchell scoring a career-high 35 and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander adding 28.

Tournament dates ahead

The in-season tournament quarterfinals are scheduled for December 4-5, followed by the semifinals on December 8-9. The final is set for December 11.