ESPN billed today's Cavaliers-Lakers game as "LeBron X Lonzo," and while LeBron James had a better game (24 points) than Lonzo Ball (five points), several other players stepped up big for the Lakers in a 127-113 win.
WATCH: LeBron James freezes Lakers' entire defence with slick no-look pass
Julius Randle scored a career-high 36 points, corralled 14 rebounds and had seven assists to key the Lakers (30-36), while center Brook Lopez added 22 points.
Yet behind the scenes there were several interesting storylines in this game. Lakers guard Isaiah Thomas, who said the Cavaliers "panicked" in January when they traded him to Los Angeles, chipped in 20 points against his former team.
Thomas didn't have anything to prove against the Cavs — he finished fifth in the NBA MVP voting last season with the Celtics, right behind James — but his performance had to feel good. He added nine assists and five rebounds off the bench.
"He's a straight dog," Randle told ESPN about Thomas after the game. "He came out here tonight and wanted to prove something."
🎥 Julius Randle set a new career-high with 36 points to go along with his 14 rebounds and 7 assists #LakersWin pic.twitter.com/Dwk4WwDn0z
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 12, 2018
The players the Cavaliers (38-28) acquired in return for Thomas — Larry Nance Jr. and Jordan Clarkson — certainly wanted to put on a good show against their old teammates. Nance had 16 points but Clarkson had just four.
Of course, James had nothing to prove, either, but it was impossible to watch him play in the Staples Center without thinking it could be his home next season.
If the four-time NBA MVP declares for free agency following this season, the Lakers are believed to be among the front-runners for his services. It's fun to think how good the Lakers' young core could be with James added to the lineup.