LeBron James claimed another piece of NBA history on Wednesday, becoming the first player to break the 39,000-point barrier as the Los Angeles Lakers routed the Utah Jazz to reach the knockout stage of the league’s new in-season tournament.

The 38-year-old, needing just five points to reach the milestone heading into the game, etched his name into the record books with a three-pointer in the first quarter of a 131-99 Lakers win.

James, who passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar last season to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, saluted the crowd as his achievement was announced.

“I haven’t really had an opportunity to wrap my head around what it means,” James said of his latest scoring milestone.

“There’s been so many great players in this league since the beginning of time, and so many great scorers.

“To be able to be the first of anything is always pretty cool. A wild moment, for sure.”

James’ landmark set the mood for a celebratory occasion at the Crypto.com Arena as the Lakers went on to score a wire-to-wire win and reach the in-season tournament’s quarter-finals.

James finished with 17 points from 6-of-10 shooting, while Anthony Davis led the Lakers scorers with 26 points, 16 rebounds and four assists.

Elsewhere, Kevin Durant also passed a scoring milestone, moving up to 11th place on the NBA’s career scoring list in Phoenix’s 120-107 drubbing of the Portland Trail Blazers.

Durant needed 14 points to overtake Elvin Hayes on the scoring charts, and duly knocked them down in a free-scoring first quarter. Durant finished with 31 points to lead the Phoenix scoring, taking his career tally to 27,331 points.

NBA SURPRISE PACKETS CONTINUE RISE

One of the surprise packets of the NBA this season has been the Orlando Magic, who moved to a 9-5 record with a 126-107 win over the Toronto Raptors.

Australian Joe Ingles linked up with the Magic this off-season on a two-year, $USD22 million deal and the veteran presence he’s had on this young Orlando roster can’t be understated.

Ingles didn’t light up the scoreboard against the Raptors, but did provide a highlight reel three-pointer when fooling two opponents with pump fakes before draining a three, much to the delight of the Magic bench.

Second-year stud Paolo Banchero led the way for Orlando with 25 points while Cole Anthony continued his stellar season and did his Sixth Man of the Year chances no harm with 15 points, 10 assists and five rebounds.

Ingles chipped in six points and two rebounds.

Regarding the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament, the Magic sit third in their group with a 2-1 record while the Raptors won’t progress, having lost their first two games.

Orlando will likely need to win their final group match against the Celtics on Saturday (AEDT) to be a chance of progressing.

For an explainer of the NBA’s In-Season Tournament, click here!

HAWKS-PACERS COMBINE FOR VERY RARE FEAT

Defence was optional in Atlanta as the Hawks and the visiting Pacers combined for a whopping 309 points in the highest scoring game of the season, with the away team running out 157-152 winners.

It is the first time since 2019 (Rockets 159-158 Wizards) that two teams have combined for over 300 points without needing overtime and only the 12th such occurrence in NBA history.

For the record, the highest scoring game ever without overtime was 320 in a match between Golden State and Denver in 1990.

Including games where extra basketball was played, 370 is the all-time record. That was set in a three-overtime thriller between the Detroit Pistons (186) and the Denver Nuggets (184) on December 13, 1983.

Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton has been lights out this season, and he again was on fire from deep against the Hawks, scoring 37 points with nine triples and 16 assists.

Not only has Haliburton proven he’s one of the best three point shooters in the league, but his 11.6 assists a game is the top mark in the NBA.

With an 8-5 record, Indiana are sixth in the East. Importantly, the win against the Hawks ensured the Pacers would progress to the quarter-finals of the In-Season Tournament.

NBA SCORES FOR NOVEMBER 22

Pacers 157 @ Hawks 152

Raptors 107 @ Magic 126

Cavaliers 122 @ 76ers 119

Jazz 99 @ Lakers 131

Trail Blazers 107@ Suns 120