LOS ANGELES: Cleveland star LeBron James tied Larry Bird for sixth all time in NBA triple-doubles Thursday as the Cavaliers beat the Los Angeles Lakers 121-112.
“King” James scored 25 points with 12 rebounds and 12 assists for the 59th triple-double of his 15-season career.
Cleveland’s Kevin Love led all scorers with 28 points, while Jose Calderon added a season high 17.
Lonzo Ball, the Lakers rookie playing against James for the first time, finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.
Brandon Ingram scored 26 points to lead the young, energetic Lakers, who seized an early lead before the Cavaliers found their range.
Cleveland scored 100 points for the 22nd consecutive game, winning for the 16th time in 17 contests.
James helped put the game away, his dunk with 2:20 remaining and short shot with 1:38 to play putting the Cavs up 117-108.
“Tonight the difficult challenge was the way they were kind of spreading the floor, running up and down,” James said. “But if we defend, if we share the ball, move the ball, we’re going to give ourselves a good chance to win every night.”
In other early games, the New York Knicks lost star forward Kristaps Porcinis with a left knee injury in the third quarter but held on for a 111-104 victory over the Nets in Brooklyn.
Although they were just across town from their Madison Square Garden Arena, for the Knicks it was a much needed road win — just their second of the season.
Courtney Lee scored a season high 27 points for the Knicks. Michael Beasley, who replaced Porzingis, added 15 points and Turkish center Enes Kanter added 13 points with nine rebounds.
The Detroit Pistons, called out by coach Stan Van Gundy after dropping their seventh straight game on Tuesday, snapped their skid with an emphatic 105-91 victory over Hawks in Atlanta.
Andre Drummond scored 12 points, pulled down 19 rebounds and handed out nine assists for the Pistons.
“It’s a little less burdensome now,” Van Gundy said of ending the losing streak that had stretched over the first two weeks of December. “Maybe we just get back to playing basketball.”
James triple-double fuels Cavaliers over Lakers
James triple-double fuels Cavaliers over Lakers
Oracle Red Bull Racing signs global partnership deal with Damac
- UAE developer’s branding will appear on the RB22 car’s halo and side pods, as well as the driver kit, helmets, and race suits
DUBAI: Oracle Red Bull Racing has signed a global partnership deal with Damac Properties, the largest private real estate developer in the UAE and the Middle East.
The Formula 1 racing team is one of the most successful in motorsport history, with a driver lineup that features four-time world champion Max Verstappen alongside rising talent Isack Hadjar.
Damac Properties branding will appear on the Oracle Red Bull Racing RB22 car’s halo and side pods, as well as the team principle and driver team kit, helmets, and race suits.
Over the years, Damac has partnered with brands that include Roberto Cavalli, Paramount, and Chelsea Football Club.
Speaking about the announcement, Amira Sajwani, managing director of sales and development at Damac Properties, said the developer was proud to partner with Oracle Red Bull Racing.
“Formula 1 represents precision, innovation, and elite performance at the highest level, values that resonate deeply with our brand DNA. I truly believe that no real estate developer in the UAE has built a partnership portfolio as diverse and globally impactful as Damac’s, and this collaboration is a powerful testament to that journey,” Sajwani said.
Laurent Mekies, CEO and team principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing, said that the partnership “will open avenues for stronger global engagement and create meaningful impact for both organizations.”
He added: “This partnership reflects our mindset as a business and our vision for the future.”
Ali Sajwani, managing director of operations, finance and hospitality at Damac, said: “Formula 1 has always been a passion of mine, and I deeply understand both the scale and global influence of this industry. At Damac, we are constantly seeking partnerships that are distinctive, powerful, and aligned with our ambition to be a trendsetter in the market.”
The announcement follows Damac’s global partnership with Chelsea Football Club, unveiled in April 2025, with the developer becoming the club’s front-of-jersey sponsor for the remainder of the 2024-25 season. The collaboration also marked the launch of Chelsea Residences by Damac, the world’s first football-branded residential development, located in Dubai.
