The Los Angeles Lakers added another dramatic chapter to their surging season Saturday night, rallying late for a 105–104 victory over the Orlando Magic behind a record-setting milestone from LeBron James and a clutch game-winner by Luke Kennard.
Kennard buried a 3-pointer with just 0.6 seconds remaining to cap a frantic finish and extend the Lakers’ winning streak to nine games. The decisive shot came moments after a replay review preserved possession for Los Angeles, setting up the final play.
The night also belonged to James, who appeared in his 1,612th regular-season game to break the long-standing NBA record previously held by Robert Parish. The four-time champion finished with 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals in the historic outing.
Despite the milestone, the Lakers needed late heroics to secure the win.
Luka Doncic led Los Angeles with 33 points, continuing his strong run during the team’s hot streak. However, he was assessed his 16th technical foul of the season, triggering an automatic one-game suspension unless the league rescinds the call.
Austin Reaves added 26 points for the Lakers, while James helped spark a key stretch midway through the third quarter by scoring six straight points to give Los Angeles an eight-point advantage.
The Magic rallied in the fourth quarter and carried a five-point lead into the final minute behind balanced scoring. Paolo Banchero paced seven Orlando players in double figures with 16 points and nearly sealed the outcome with a defensive stand late. Banchero blocked a James attempt out of bounds with 4.7 seconds left, but replay review determined the ball did not deflect off James’ foot, allowing Los Angeles to keep possession.
On the ensuing play, Marcus Smart delivered the inbounds pass that found Kennard beyond the arc for the game-winning shot. The loss marked the fourth straight setback for Orlando despite another strong collective effort.
With momentum building, the Lakers will look to extend their streak Monday night when they visit the Detroit Pistons. The Magic return home the same night to face the Indiana Pacers as they try to halt their slide.
