Lakers, Cavaliers Post Big Wins as Playoff Picture Tightens

LOS ANGELES, California — LeBron James scored 34 points and Luka Dončić added 30 points and 15 assists as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans, 136-115, on March 5, 2025. The victory came on a night where James reached a historic milestone, becoming the first player to accumulate 50,000 points in combined regular-season and playoff games.

Alongside James’s impressive outing, Jaxson Hayes contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds, marking the Lakers’ seventh consecutive victory. Despite missing key players Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves due to injury, the Lakers maintained their momentum against the Pelicans, who had won five of their previous seven games.

“It’s special to achieve this milestone with my teammates and fans,” James said after the game. “Winning is the most important thing, and we’re focused on building chemistry as we head into the playoffs.”

In another game, Donovan Mitchell scored 28 points and Jarrett Allen recorded a double-double with 25 points and 17 rebounds, helping the Cleveland Cavaliers secure their 11th straight win by defeating the Chicago Bulls, 139-117. The Cavaliers erased a 15-point second-quarter deficit to seal the victory.

“We showed resilience, and that’s what champions do,” said Mitchell following the win. “No matter the deficit, we continue to fight and rally together.”

Coby White led the Bulls with 25 points, but Chicago endured its ninth loss in 11 games, struggling to gain traction in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

The Phoenix Suns also triumphed, edging the Los Angeles Clippers 119-117, with Kevin Durant scoring 34 points, including 19 in the critical fourth quarter. The win allowed the Suns to snap a streak of poor performances, achieving just their fourth win in the last 15 games.

“This win was huge for us. We have to keep pushing,” Durant stated. “We’re capable of big things when we play together.”

In other notable games, Tyrese Haliburton‘s double-double of 28 points and 15 assists propelled the Indiana Pacers to a 115-102 victory over the Houston Rockets, while Giannis Antetokounmpo notched his sixth triple-double of the season to help the Milwaukee Bucks defeat the Atlanta Hawks, 127-121.

Rookie Ja’Kobe Walter hit a last-second three-pointer to lead the Toronto Raptors to a dramatic 114-113 win against the Orlando Magic, who have now lost four consecutive contests.

As the regular season nears its conclusion, the race for playoff positioning intensifies, with teams scrambling for crucial victories as they aim for postseason success. The next few weeks are critical, with numerous matchups poised to have significant playoff implications.