The fixture that we have been waiting for is finally here. Even Anthony Edwards wanted front-row tickets for this matchup. And Luka Doncic found his form just in time for this game. But LeBron James’ status remains up in the air. The Lakers are on a roll, but keeping that energy alive won’t be easy. Their upcoming stretch is brutal—the toughest in the league. If they want to stay hot, they’ll need to bring the same intensity they showed against Denver. No room for slip-ups.

Don’t let Anthony Davis’ absence fool you—this team can still bring the heat. Before Sunday’s blowout loss to the Warriors, Dallas was riding a three-game win streak. And for this match, they could be without LeBron.

LeBron is once again listed as probable for Tuesday’s game against the Mavericks as the Lakers keep a close eye on his lingering left foot injury. At this point, seeing his name on the injury report has almost become routine.

But if you’ve been watching, you know it hasn’t slowed him down. Over his last five games, James has been on a tear—dropping 26.6 points a night while adding 7.4 rebounds and 7.0 assists. He’s been locking in defensively too, averaging 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks.

Another name on the injury report is Maxi Kleber. He has been ruled out of this matchup. On February 4, Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported that Maxi Kleber’s surgically repaired right foot will be re-evaluated in eight weeks. But the main event of the night? Luka finally faces the team that cast him aside. This time, he aims to inflict damage while wearing purple and gold. If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that he doesn’t let games like this slide. You just know he’s coming in with something to prove—let’s hope he puts on a show.

While Luka’s revenge game is grabbing headlines, another historic moment is brewing on the horizon. LeBron James is inching closer to a milestone no player has ever touched.

LeBron James is going to create history once again

The 21x All-Star is closing in on yet another insane milestone—hitting 50,000 combined points between the regular season and playoffs. No one has ever done it before, and now, he’s just 131 points away from making history. If all goes according to plan, early March should be when he reaches that mark.

It’s wild to think about, but the 4x MVP somehow keeps rewriting the record books in Year 21. He already passed Kareem for the all-time regular-season scoring crown, but stacking up 50K total points? That’s a whole different level of dominance. It speaks to his longevity, consistency, and the way he’s been torching defenses for two decades.

Heading into the Lakers’ February 22 matchup against Denver, LeBron had 41,707 regular-season points. Add in his 8,162 playoff points, and the total jumps to 49,869. Sure, technically, he could’ve hit the milestone that night if he dropped 131 points—but let’s be real, that wasn’t happening. Instead, he finished with 25, right in line with his 24.7 season average.

At this pace, he should cross 50K by March 4 when the Lakers take on the Pelicans. But with back-to-back games on February 27 and 28, there’s a chance he rests, pushing the moment to March 6 against the Knicks. Either way, it’s coming.

Luka Doncic and the Mavs might be the focus now, but soon, all eyes will be on LeBron as he sets a record no one has touched. His legacy? Already cemented. But this? Just another reminder of his greatness.