Chapter 23 Begins: LeBron James’ Playmaking Fuels Lakers’ 140-126 Rout of Jazz

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LOS ANGELES, CA — On a night defined by history, LeBron James officially began his unprecedented 23rd NBA season, returning from a month-long absence to orchestrate a high-scoring 140-126 victory for the Los Angeles Lakers (11-4) over the Utah Jazz (6-9) on Tuesday night. The 40-year-old superstar, sidelined since training camp with sciatica, quickly demonstrated that his vision and playmaking ability remain timeless, even as he eased back into the scoring rhythm.

James, playing 30 minutes in his season debut, delivered a magnificent, pass-first performance, finishing the night with a double-double of 11 points and 12 assists along with three rebounds. In doing so, he became the oldest player in NBA history to record a double-double in a season opener, an early milestone in a season where he surpassed Vince Carter for the all-time record in seasons played.

The game started shaky for the Lakers, who trailed by as much as 11 points in the first quarter as the Jazz’s Keyonte George and Lauri Markkanen led a scoring flurry. However, the Lakers—who had established a strong 10-4 record without their star—rallied, with Luka Dončić taking the lead. Dončić was explosive all night, finishing with a game-high 37 points and 10 assists, including a 17-point explosion in the third quarter that saw the Lakers seize control.

James’s return was defined by his unselfishness, as he consistently deferred to the hot hands of Dončić and Austin Reaves, who added 26 points. James focused on distributing the ball, setting up easy buckets for Deandre Ayton and finding open shooters, allowing the Lakers to close the third quarter on a massive 21-5 run that gave them a comfortable lead they would not relinquish. Though James himself only needed a third-quarter layup to extend his record streak of double-digit scoring performances to 1,293 games, his true impact was felt through the elevated play of his teammates.

Coach JJ Redick praised James’ approach, noting his unselfishness and willingness to let the game come to him after a long layoff. James acknowledged the difficulty of stepping back into the pace of an NBA game, admitting, “The pace tested me, but I was happy with the way I was able to go with the guys.” With the return of their leader, the Lakers’ high-powered offense appears even more dynamic as they cement their strong position in the Western Conference.