LeBron James climbs to fourth place on NBA's career assists list

Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (6) looks to pass during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, in New York. The Lakers won 129-123 in overtime. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

NEW YORK -

LeBron James has climbed into fourth place on the NBA's assists list as he closes in on becoming the league's career scoring leader.

James passed both Mark Jackson (10,334) and Steve Nash (10,335) in the fourth quarter of the Lakers' 129-123 overtime victory over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night. His 10,336th assist came on Thomas Bryant's dunk with a little more than 9 1/2 minutes remaining.

He finished with 11 assists and now has 10,338.

James came into the game 117 points from passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the NBA's career scoring record. He is now 89 from that after scoring 28.

It was James' first game at Madison Square Garden since January 2020. He missed one game because of injury and then was suspended last season after striking Detroit's Isaiah Stewart in the face.