MIAMI (AP) — The King has tied The Chief. LeBron James started for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Miami Heat on Thursday night, making it the 1,611th regular-season game of his career and tying Robert Parish’s all-time NBA mark.

James’ decision to play on Thursday in Miami inspired Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves to battle exhaustion and do the same as the Lakers won their eighth game in a row.

Both the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat may be without multiple key players in Thursday night's matchup.

First, the tanking Grizzlies upset the Nuggets, who thus dropped to the West's No. 6 seed, one game back of Minnesota. Second, the Rockets, who lost to the Lakers for the second consequential result of the night.

The Lakers are starting to look like their best selves, and they notched another road win over the Rockets on Wednesday.

Tip-off is at 9:30 PM ET on NBCSN and Peacock.