Luka Doncic scores 60, LeBron James ties games-played mark and Lakers top Heat for 8th straight win

MIAMI (AP) — Luka Doncic scored 60 points, LeBron James had a triple-double on a night where he tied the NBA record for games played, and the Los Angeles Lakers pushed their season-best winning streak to eight games with a 134-126 win over the Miami Heat on Thursday night.

It tied the second-most points Doncic ever scored in a game, behind a 73-point night against Atlanta in 2024 and matching a 60-point night against New York in 2022. Doncic also broke the record for a Heat opponent, topping the 58-point effort from James Harden for Houston on Feb. 28, 2019.

Doncic — the NBA's scoring leader — has now scored at least 30 points in eight consecutive games, reached 50 for the second time in his last five games and did so on the second night of a back to back. James finished with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, and Austin Reaves scored 18 for the Lakers.

Bam Adebayo had 28 points for Miami, which has dropped three straight. Tyler Herro scored 21 points and Norman Powell had 20 for Miami, which led by as many as 15 in the early going.

James didn't miss a shot until early in the fourth quarter, meaning he connected on 21 of 22 in a span of just over seven quarters. He made his last shot attempt in Monday's win at Houston, then went 13 for 14 in Wednesday's win over the Rockets, followed by a 7-for-7 start against the Heat.

But Doncic was the story, getting 39 of his 60 after halftime. He finished 18 of 30 from the field, 9 of 17 from 3-point range and 15 of 19 from the foul line.

The Heat were without Jaime Jaquez Jr. (left hip tightness) and Andrew Wiggins (toe).

Lakers: Visit Orlando on Saturday.

Heat: Visit Houston on Saturday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dunks over Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) hopes to the basket as Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell (45) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) goes for a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart, right, drives to the basket as Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, left, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) attempts to pass as Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, right, goes for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Pep Guardiola was given the platform to engage in pre-match mind games with rival coach Mikel Arteta ahead of Manchester City’s meeting with Arsenal in the English League Cup final on Sunday.

He didn’t bite.

“Look what’s happened around the world,” Guardiola said Friday. “We have an incredible chaos and nobody moves one finger. Everything is behind the scenes. The world is going to collapse and still we are here talking about dark arts.”

Guardiola’s reference to “dark arts” recalled a flashpoint between the teams that reared up after a Premier League match in September 2024, when Arsenal’s tactics drew criticism from a number of City players following a 2-2 draw.

Midfielder Bernardo Silva said Arsenal’s players pushed “the limits of what was possible to do.” Defender John Stones said they “break up the game which upsets the rhythm.” It was full back Kyle Walker, no longer at City, who described Arsenal’s perceived tactics as “dark arts.”

Those comments prompted Arteta to respond rather cryptically, saying he has “all the information” about City owing to his time there as an assistant to Guardiola from 2016-19.

Guardiola in turn called on Arteta to be "more clear exactly what does he mean.”

A year and a half later, Guardiola wasn’t in the mood to reignite that argument.

“There are officials to deal with these kind of things,” he said.

Indeed, the City manager praised the evolution and “solidarity” of Arsenal, which is in contention to win four trophies this season as the Premier League leader by nine points and having advanced to the quarterfinals of the Champions League and FA Cup.

“Exceptional team,” he said. “It’s a big challenge for us to see how our level is.”

Arteta said his relationship with Guardiola “had to” change because they are in charge of teams who have become big rivals.

“But what I feel about him and the time that we had together and what he did for me — the inspiration he has been since I was little — that is never going to change,” Arteta said.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta looks on during the warm up prior to the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 soccer match between Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen, in London, Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola watches from the bench ahead of the Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match between Manchester City and Real Madrid in Manchester, Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looks on during a press conference in Manchester, England, Monday March 16, 2026, one day ahead of their Champions League soccer match against Real Madrid. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)