PHILADELPHIA – LeBron James needed one simple slam to hit another major milestone.
James became the youngest player to reach 25,000 career points, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers past the winless Philadelphia 76ers, 107-100, on Monday night.
“It just means I’ve played with a lot of great teammates, a lot of great coaches,” James said. “I’ve been around some great groups and I’ve been able to reap the benefits. It’s a cool thing. I’ve got more work to do but it’s pretty cool to see where you’re able to kind of stop and look at it.”
James had 22 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds and rallied the Cavs in the second half against a scrappy Philly team that had built a 15-point lead. James, a two-time NBA champion with the Miami Heat, and the rest of the Eastern Conference champions had enough to push back the undermanned Sixers.
James scored the milestone basket on an alley-oop dunk with 8:07 left in the fourth quarter. He became the sixth active player with 25,000 points and the 20th overall, joining Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki, San Antonio’s Tim Duncan, Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett, Los Angeles’ Kobe Bryant and Paul Pierce of the Clippers.
James reached 25,000 career points – the dunk gave him 25,001 – at 30 years, 307 days. Bryant held the mark at 31 years, 351 days.
Elsewhere, the Golden State Warriors continued to ram down the opposition with their awesome firepower, blasting the Memphis Grizzlies, 119-69, while the Houston Rockets snapped a 0-3 start with a come-from-behind 110-105 victory over Oklahoma, handing the Thunder their first defeat at three straight wins.
Portland outlasted Minnesota, 106-101; San Antonio trounced New York, 94-84; while the Los Angeles Clippers held off the Phoenix Suns, 102-96.
Back in Philadelphia, James’ biggest feat may have been giving 18,094 76ers fans a reason to cheer, and he was rewarded with a standing ovatio.
“They are Sixer fans to death. But they know and they respect the game of basketball,” James said. “To get a standing ovation for reaching that milestone, it was very special.”
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James scored six points in the third quarter to help the Cavaliers start their rally against the 0-3 Sixers. He made 9 of 19 shots and had four steals.
But it was the latest major achievement that stuck with James, who went from Ohio prep star to the No. 1 overall selection by Cleveland in the 2003 draft.
“I’ve been able to stay healthy,” he said. “I’ve been able to play for two great organizations.”
Jahlil Okafor, the No. 3 overall pick of this year’s draft, fought through foul trouble and led the Sixers with 24 points. Nik Stauskas scored 15 and Nerlens Noel 14.
Okafor and Noel are the building blocks of a franchise years away from contention. Okafor and Noel, the No. 6 overall pick of the 2013 draft, gave the Sixers a peek in the first half at just good they might be one day. Noel and Okafor powered Philadelphia to a 32-18 lead after one and a 54-49 edge at the break.