James leads Lakers past slow-starting Nets

LeBron James soars for two of his game-high 25 points Tuesday in what may have been his final game in Brooklyn. AP Photo by Frank Franklin II

If this was the last time LeBron James visits Downtown’s Barclays Center, the 41-year-old NBA legend certainly made it memorable.

James scored a game-high 25 points, handed out seven assists and picked up three steals before a sellout crowd of 18,248 on the corner of Atlantic and Flatbush on Tuesday night, lifting the Los Angeles Lakers to a 125-109 victory over the slumping Nets.

Recently selected to his 22nd consecutive NBA All-Star Game, James has not yet announced whether or not this will be his final campaign.

Our borough’s basketball fanatics showed up in droves just in case the league’s all-time leading scorer was bidding farewell to Brooklyn.

The Nets (13-36) didn’t bother to show up until midway through the second quarter, trailing by as many as 39 in the first half after getting outscored 45-23 by James and company in the opening 12 minutes.

The Lakers made 15 of their first 18 shots, getting to the basket with ease while the Nets went stone cold after rookie Egor Dëmin opened the scoring with a 24-footer.

At least Brooklyn coach Jordi Fernández saw some fight out of his team two nights after watching them submit following a brutal first quarter in Detroit that resulted in a 130-77 loss to the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons.

“We saw some positive things, but obviously that first quarter is unacceptable,” Fernández said after accusing some of his players of quitting in Motown.

James, who is eager to capture his fifth NBA championship on the way out, went 10-of-16 from the field and also fed teammates Luka Doncic and Jake LaRavia for a series of fast-break baskets.

Doncic, the league’s leading scorer, finished with 24 points and LaRavia added 18 for Los Angeles, which finished 5-3 on its season-high eight-game road trip.

Los Angeles Lakers' Deandre Ayton, right, defends Brooklyn Nets' Day'ron Sharpe during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) Nets back-up center Day’Ron Sharpe showed no quit after the Lakers ran out to a 39-point lead in the first half Tuesday. AP Photo by Frank Franklin II

Michael Porter Jr., snubbed thus far from All-Star consideration, returned from a two-game absence due to personal reasons and amassed 21 points and 10 rebounds.

Veteran reserves Day’Ron Sharpe and Ziaire Williams helped the Nets pretty up the score in the second half, putting up 19 and 17 points, respectively.

Sharpe grabbed a game-high 14 boards, including a whopping 10 off the offensive glass.

Brooklyn’s porous shooting effort doubtlessly helped the back-up center gather misses off clanged attempts.

The Nets were 2-of-20 from beyond the arc at one point before finishing 10-of-41.

“The shots didn’t go in in the first half, and I know those were good looks for the most part,” noted Fernández, who watched his squad drop to 3-16 in the new year after a heartening 7-4 December inspired hope of a more competitive rebuild.

James drained three straight free throws to give Los Angeles (30-19) a 109-81 cushion with just under nine minutes to play before leaving to a rousing ovation.

He did stick around to watch his son, Bronny, get a cheer for checking in during extended garbage time in the final five minutes.

The 21-year-old James put up four points, handed out an assist and gobbled up a steal while the Nets were doing some cosmetic work on the final score, outpointing the Lakers 35-25 in the final period.

“They’re playing hard, they should play hard at all times, whether it’s one minute, five, 20, 30. We’ll work on being better on those things,” said Fernández, who will have to wait out Thursday’s NBA trade deadline to see if his roster undergoes another overhaul.

Porter, Sharpe, Nic Claxton and Cam Thomas could be on other teams’ wish lists, but general manager Sean Marks would have to further decimate Fernández’s roster in the hopes of acquiring more draft picks.

Dëmin, the first of Brooklyn’s historic haul of five first-rounders, had 11 points on 4-of-11 shooting.

The 19-year-old had his streak of 34 consecutive games with at least one 3-pointer snapped in Detroit, but buried three from long range against the Lakers.

He also committed six of the Nets’ 20 turnovers, resulting in 23 points for Los Angeles, which beat Brooklyn by a 31-18 count on the break.

Losers of nine of their last 10, the Nets will try to get off the deck in Orlando on Thursday night at 7 p.m.

The game will air locally on the YES Network.

Los Angeles Lakers' Bronny James (9) smiles after scoring during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) Nets fans got a kick out of seeing Bronny James, the 21-year-old son of LeBron, check in for fourth-quarter action Tuesday at Barclays Center. AP Photo by Frank Franklin II

NOTHING BUT NET: Lakers guard Austin Reaves returned from a calf injury to score 15 points off the bench in his first action since Christmas Day. James was pleased to have him back in the fold. “It was just a boost for all of us, especially at the end of a road trip, to get a guy like that back,” James told the Associated Press. “Obviously his rhythm is a little off, but he still made an impact.” … After visiting the Magic, the Nets will kick off a three-game homestand vs. Washington at Barclays on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.