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LeBron James scored a season-high 56 points on Saturday night as his Los Angeles Lakers team claimed a crucial 124-116 over Golden State Warriors.
The Lakers are 40/1 to win the NBA Championship outright and Golden State can be backed at 19/4.
James, who also had 10 rebounds and three assists, became just the fourth player in the history of the NBA aged 37 or over to score 50 or more points - and managed his highest scoring game since moving to LA in 2018.
The Lakers ended a four-game losing streak with the win over the visiting Dubs, but their post-season hopes remain in the balance.
The 2020 champions sit in ninth place in the Western Conference with a 28-35 overall record and an automatic play-off spot is all but out of reach, while they are clinging on to a place in the play-in spots as they are just three games ahead of Portland Trail Blazers in 11th after the win over Golden State.
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When asked to describe his and his team's performance, James told ESPN: "Four-game losing streak, our season has been up and down. I would say 'desperation' and 'inspired'. We played inspired basketball against a really good team. We needed this win for sure."
Golden State have also hit a rough patch and the loss to the Lakers was their fourth defeat in a row.
The Dubs have now dropped to third in the West, with Memphis Grizzlies moving into second, but they look set to finish in the top six regardless and are playing for the highest seed they can claim in their remaining regular season games.
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