LeBron James scored 17 points and 11 assists two days before his 39th birthday, Anthony Davis scored 26 points and eight rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Charlotte Hornets 133-112 on Thursday night.

After winning the NBA’s first In-Season Tournament almost three weeks ago, the Lakers triumphed for the third time in nine games with Rui Hachimura scoring 17 and Austin Reaves 16. Los Angeles pulled away from the struggling Hornets with a 41-point third quarter paced by Hachimura and James, who scored 12 each.

D’Angelo Russell scored 16 points and nailed four 3-pointers for the Lakers, including his 1,300th. Los Angeles led by a point at halftime and 28 points early in the fourth, enabling coach Darvin Ham to rest James and Davis for the final quarter.

James, the NBA’s oldest player, is still going strong in his 21st season. He spearheaded the drаmаtic third-quarter comeback and made two 3-pointers while quarterbacking for lengthy minutes.

Miles Bridges scored 20 and Terry Rozier had 18 for the Hornets, who are on their worst skid since late 2014. Charlotte played with the Lakers in the first half but dropped its second consecutive game in Los Angeles’ downtown arena to start a six-game trip.

For the Hornets, LaMelo Ball missed his 14th consecutive game with an injured left ankle.

After replacing Cam Reddish, who had a groin ailment, Hachimura began poorly. However, he led James and Davis as the Lakers scored 10 of their first 12 baskets in the second half and took their first double-digit lead.

In 32 games, Los Angeles started their ninth lineup. Last season, the Lakers had 39 starting lineups, but James and Davis have missed just five games this year.

The Lakers seldom blоw out opponents, but they went deep into their bench in the fourth quarter. Christian Wood scored nine points in his first meaningful playing time in over two weeks, while freshman Jalen Hood-Schifino Һit his first December field goal in the closing minutes.