LeBron James returns and hands out 12 assists as Lakers defeat the Jazz

Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times on Nov 19, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

LeBron James stepped onto the Crypto.com Arena court about an hour before the Lakers were getting ready to play the Utah Jazz to start his pre-game routine, the buzz building from his every movement, everyone anticipating him playing in his first game of the season.

And so it began for James, the start of his NBA-record 23rd season, the right sciatica that kept him out of the first 14 Lakers games no longer holding him back.

James put on a show in the form of his dazzling passes to open teammates that pushed the Lakers to a 140-125 win over the Jazz on Tuesday night.

He was flashy with many of his 12 assists to go along with 11 points. He was four for seven from the field and two of three from three-point range in 29 minutes and 37 seconds of action.

James departed for good with 6:39 left and the Lakers leading by 19 points in a game Luka Doncic was a force with 37 points, 10 assists and five rebounds while Austin Reaves (26 points) and Deandre Ayton (20 points and 14 rebounds) were on top of their games again.

James missed his first shot, a three-pointer early in the first quarter, but made his second shot, a three-pointer with eight minutes and 20 seconds left in the second quarter, the 26-foot jumper on the left side of the court coming off a pass from Reaves.

A few seconds later, James was in his bag again, throwing a lob pass to Ayton for a dunk and a little later whipping a pass to a cutting Marcus Smart for a layup.

When James drilled a three-pointer with 42.7 seconds left in the second quarter, he passed Reggie Miller (2,560) for sixth-place on the NBA’s all-time regular-season three-point list.

James started slow, but he began to build as the second quarter moved on, scoring seven points, handing out four assists and grabbing two rebounds. He was two for four from the field and two for three from three-point range, all in 17 minutes.

The excitement of James returning for the Lakers didn’t help them on defense, however.

They gave up 71 points in the first half, allowing the Jazz to make 55.3 % of their shots, 40% of their three-pointers.

But the Lakers improved their defense in the third quarter and they got another special moment from James, when he threw a cross-court pass to Gabe Vincent, who drilled a three-pointer as the buzzer sounded to give the Lakers 104-93 lead after the third.

James was not done. He filled the lane on the fast break in the fourth quarter, took a pass on the wing from Reaves and then threw a left-handed pass to Ayton for a dunk.

The Jazz called a timeout with 8:25 left, which gave the crowd a chance to cheer even more.

James last played in an NBA game on April 30, a first-round playoff loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves that eliminated the Lakers.

The Lakers have 67 regular-season games left and they will have to devise a plan on how to use James the rest of the season. The key is to make sure he remains healthy and available as the season progresses.

“We’re gonna have to — we used the word uncharted territory a few times in preseason — we’re gonna have to just manage this as best we can, given that there’s no precedent for it,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “He knows his body better than anyone.

“Mike [Mancias, James’ trainer], obviously, is probably No. 2 there. The level of communication we had last year and throughout this six-, seven-week period has been really good. So, I don’t expect to change there. We’ll figure out ways to get him rest when he needs rest.”

_______