NBA champion Lakers rout Mavs while Nets, Bucks, Heat roll

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James drives past Dallas Mavericks forward Dorian Finney-Smith. USA Today

Anthony Davis scored 28 points while LeBron James added 22 as the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers routed Dallas 138-115 in Friday's feature game of a record-setting Christmas slate.

James had a game-high 10 assists and seven rebounds, while Davis contributed eight rebounds, five assists and two steals and reserve Montrezl Harrell had 22 points for the Lakers, who played on the holiday for a 22nd consecutive year.

"We have a lot of offensive firepower," Lakers coach Frank Vogel said.

James, who turns 36 on Wednesday, rose to second on the NBA's all-time Christmas points list with 383, passing Oscar Robertson by six to pull within 12 of matching the late Kobe Bryant's career record.

It was the 10th Christmas victory in 15 holiday appearances by James, who equaled former Miami teammate Dwyane Wade for the most career Christmas NBA wins.

Slovakian star guard Luka Doncic scored 27 points for Dallas, but the Mavericks - in their first Christmas game since 2011 - were outscored in every quarter and outrebounded 53-27 by the Lakers in an overpowering effort on a night of blowouts.

Brooklyn's Kyrie Irving and Miami's Duncan Robinson each matched an NBA Christmas record with seven 3-pointers, the Heat stretching their holiday win streak to eight games.

Irving scored 37 points, hitting 7-of-10 3-point attempts in his return to Boston, as the Nets ripped his former Celtics teammates 123-95.

"I'm glad we could put on a performance for everybody," Irving said. "We're definitely going to continue to progress every day."

Robinson finished with 23 points, hitting 7-of-13 from beyond the arc, in leading 2020 NBA runner-up Miami over visiting New Orleans 111-98.

"Getting more and more comfortable every day," Robinson said. "Last year was a great learning experience. We're just trying to build on it. We're happy to get this one."

Also rolling to a holiday triumph were the Milwaukee Bucks, who had a game-high 31 points from Khris Middleton to beat Golden State 138-99 -- the second-most lopsided blowout in NBA Christmas history -- thanks to a 72-43 Bucks edge in the second half.

"It was just moving the ball," said Middleton. "We made some defensive mistakes but we made some adjustments to correct those. We just wanted to put on a show."

At Boston, Jaylen Brown scored 27 points and Jayson Tatum added 22, but Brooklyn's Kevin Durant scored 16 of his 29 in the third quarter and the Nets seized an 86-77 edge before pulling away in the fourth quarter.

The Nets became the first club since the 2008-09 Lakers to win their first two games by 20 or more points.

"We can't exceed our own expectations," Irving said. "We know this is a long journey ahead."

As for his return to Boston, Irving said, "I went to war with those guys. We're going to continue to lean on each other as brothers off the floor and compete on it."

- No Butler, no problem -

Goran Dragic came off Miami's bench to score 18 points, and Bam Adebayo added 17 for the Heat, whose NBA-best Christmas record is 11-2 despite Jimmy Butler missing the second half with right ankle stiffness.

"When he goes down, it's up to us to pick it up for him," Robinson said. "I thought we did a good job of sticking with it and getting a good win today."

Zion Williamson scored 32 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead the Pelicans.

At Milwaukee, two-time reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 15 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to spark the Bucks, while two-time MVP Stephen Curry had a team-best 19 points.

The last game on the NBA holiday slate had the Los Angeles Clippers at Denver.

js/to