LeBron James scores 28, leads Lakers past Suns 101-73 to clinch home-court advantage in 1st round

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James had 28 points, 12 assists and six rebounds, and the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers clinched home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs with their 101-73 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Friday night.

Luke Kennard scored 19 points and Rui Hachimura added 13 for the Lakers, who will be either the third or fourth seed in the Western Conference despite finishing the regular season without injured stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

Los Angeles (52-29) is one game behind third-place Denver (53-28) with one game left, but LA holds the tiebreaker over the Nuggets.

The Lakers won their second straight and their 15th in 19 games with a vintage performance from the 41-year-old James, who showed no weariness on the second night of a back-to-back set in which he scored 54 points on 63.6% shooting (21 for 33).

James also recorded the 12,000th assist of his career in the first half, becoming only the fourth NBA player to reach the milestone.

The NBA scoring king racked up 14 points in the first quarter, and he added six points and seven assists in the second half while making sure the Lakers' lead stayed firm.

Dillon Brooks scored 12 points for the Suns, who are seventh in the West standings and locked into the top spot in the play-in tournament.

Devin Booker sat out for Phoenix to rest his injured right ankle for the postseason, and Jalen Green also sat with right knee soreness. Collin Gillespie and Grayson Allen played in the first half, but sat in the second half of the Suns' lowest-scoring performance of the season.

The Lakers' injury woes remain dire, but Marcus Smart had six points and seven assists against Phoenix in his return from a nine-game injury absence.

James scored or assisted on nine of the Lakers' first 10 field goals while they streaked to an early 16-point lead.

Suns: At Oklahoma City on Sunday.

Lakers: Host Utah on Sunday.

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

Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) prepares to shoot against Los Angeles Lakers forward Maxi Kleber, left, as Lakers forward Jake LaRavia, back center, watches during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks, center, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, and Lakers forward Jake LaRavia, right, battle for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) holds the ball against Phoenix Suns forward Rasheer Fleming (20) as Suns forward Ryan Dunn, back left, and Lakers guard Bronny James, back right, look on during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James gestures after making a basket against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

NEW YORK (AP) — Jeff McNeil had two hits in his return to Citi Field, including a run-scoring single in a three-run ninth inning that helped the Athletics beat the New York Mets 4-0 on Friday night as their pitchers extended a scoreless streak to 26 innings.

Mets starter Clay Holmes left after 5 1/3 innings with left hamstring tightness. New York has three runs and 20 hits during a three-game losing streak.

McNeil, traded to the A's in December after spending his first eight big league seasons with the Mets, received a warm ovation before his first at-bat and tipped the bill of his helmet twice. The 2022 NL batting champion doubled in the fourth and at second base robbed Carson Benge of a hit to end the fifth.

Shea Langeliers had an RBI single in the third off Holmes (2-1) and Denzel Clarke hit a two-run single in the ninth for the Athletics, who have pitched 25 straight scoreless innings against the Mets and Yankees dating to Tuesday night.

Jack Perkins (1-0), the third of five pitchers, allowed three hits over 2 1/3 innings in relief of J.T. Ginn, who gave up one hit over four innings in his first start this season.

With runners at the corners with no outs in the sixth, A's first baseman Nick Kurtz fielded Jared Young’s grounder and threw to third to nab Francisco Lindor, who broke back to the bag after taking off for home. Perkins then got Luis Robert Jr. to hit into a double play.

Holmes (2-1) allowed five hits.

Athletics LHP Jacob Lopez (0-1, 6.48 ERA) faces Mets RHP Kodai Senga (0-1, 3.09 ERA) on Saturday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Mets' Francisco Lindor, right, and Francisco Alvarez, left, encourae pitcher Tobias Myers (32) before he leaves during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics Friday, April 10, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Francisco Lindor (12) reacts after being thrown out at first base during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics Friday, April 10, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Athletics' Jeff McNeil (22) throws out New York Mets' Luis Robert Jr. at first base after forcing out New York Mets' Jared Young (29) for a double play during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 10, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Athletics' Jeff McNeil (22) runs to first base for an RBI single during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, April 10, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Athletics' Jeff McNeil follows through on a double during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, April 10, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)