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The Los Angeles Lakers delivered a resounding message to the rest of the Western Conference on Friday night, coasting to a 140-109 victory over the depleted Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena.
With the win, the Lakers clinched the No. 3 seed and locked up home court advantage for at least the opening round of the playoffs.
While much of the credit goes to Luka Doncic, who was once again in superstar form with 39 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, the night didn't belong solely to LA's leading man.
Late in the game, with the outcome well in hand and head coach JJ Redick opting to rest his starters, rookie Bronny James stepped into the spotlight.
James, who has spent most of his debut season earning reps in limited time, gave Lakers fans a reason to cheer in the final two minutes.
After executing a smooth spin move to create separation, he knocked down a three-pointer - just his ninth of the season. On the surface, it may have seemed like a modest contribution.
But the made shot elevated him into unexpected company, tying him with none other than Michael Jordan for made 3-pointers during their respective rookie campaigns. Jordan also hit nine triples in the 1984/85 season.
A nod to history and a peek into the future
While the comparison may be more trivia than a meaningful stat-line equivalency, social media erupted over the moment.
After all, it's not every day a rookie shares space with Michael Jordan in the record books, no matter how specific the category may be. James' three-pointer sent Crypto.com Arena into a roar - part recognition of the name on the back of his jersey, and part celebration of his continued growth on one of the league's biggest stages.
James finished the night with three points on 1-for-4 shooting, but his presence, however brief, added a touch of excitement to an already dominant performance from the Lakers.