Los Angeles Lakers veteran forward Carmelo Anthony passed Moses Malone for 9th on the NBA All-Time Scoring list, fueling the Lakers to a 121-118 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night.
“I’m still here doing it,” Anthony said following the game, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “I think that’s what I’m honestly excited about. I’m here in Year 19 still doing what I’m able to do. Still passionate about the game. Still passionate about coming to work every day and getting better. And what a better night to reach ninth than with a win, the way that we needed a win tonight.”
“He didn’t crawl up to that milestone,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. “He blew the doors off of it.”
Anthony’s 12 points in the fourth quarter and his two free throws with 1.9 seconds remaining in regulation, iced the game for the Lakers, marking their first win of the new season after opening the season with an 0-2 record.
Anthony, 37, is averaging 17.7 points through his first three games with the Lakers.