Ultimately, James outperformed Curry as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Golden State Warriors 145-144 on Saturday night, capping his triple-double of 36 points, a career-high 20 rebounds, and 12 assists with a pair of free throws with 1.2 seconds remaining.
“It’s an experience I’ll be able to share with my grandchildren, discussing my ability to challenge one of the best players in game history,” James remarked. “So, hopefully, at that point, I can definitely be cool with my grandkids.”
Curry made a layup by dancing through the paint, forcing overtime. In the second overtime, he gave himself a lead by making a 3-pointer that was high over Anthony Davis.
James opened the scoring in the second overtime period and then set up D’Angelo Russell for a three-pointer the following possession.
The back-and-forth battles, the Finals runs, and the playoffs last year are all things we get to see every year. When the horn went off tonight, there was a small chuckle, “We can’t really imagine a situation where a game like this happens, his year, what, 21, and my year, 15,” Curry remarked. “It’s crazy, all the other guys in the NBA who have been doing it for more than 15 years, like Kevin Durant and Chris Paul.
Because so few others are aware of how difficult what you’re doing is, you both look forward to the battles and respect each other’s willingness to put in the necessary effort to maintain your current level of performance. I’m glad to be a part of that group.
Lakers coach Darvin Ham was seated near the action and had to maintain his composure to watch the magnificence.
“Oh, man,” he said in a later breath.
“I’m just trying to be a better basketball fan first and foremost,” he remarked. “They ought to be quite pleased in New York; this was an excellent basketball match at a very high level. Two great organizations, two alternating legends. It was enjoyable to take part in. It’s just one of those victories where our character was demonstrated. Our team is truly gelling now.
Curry finished with a season-high nine 3-pointers, including a game-winning 3-pointer with 4.7 seconds remaining in the second overtime period and a game-winning 3-pointer over Davis with 1:22 remaining.
Russell made two 3-pointers late in regulation to lead his team to 28 points, and he added another with 53 seconds remaining in the second overtime period.
James got his third triple-double of the year and 110th of his career with 12 points in the two overtime periods. Along with 13 rebounds, Davis scored 29 points.
Golden State’s first double-OT game since a 143-141 victory against Atlanta on January 2, 2023, included two clutch 3-pointers by Klay Thompson: one late in the first extra session and the other late in the second. Thompson fouled out with 1:14 remaining in the game.
Following a near-injury scare in the third, Davis returned. With 29 seconds remaining in regulation, he converted two free throws; but, with 14.7 seconds remaining, he missed the first of two, putting Golden State behind 118-116. With less than six seconds remaining, Curry surged through the paint for the game-tying basket that forced overtime.
After the Lakers defeated the Warriors in a six-game Western Conference semifinal series last year, these star-studded teams squared off in another exciting match.
The Warriors only attempted 16 free throws, while Los Angeles made 38 of 43, and they were not happy about that.
“My mom is here right now, so I want to be on my best behavior, so I’m not going to comment on their 43 free throws to our 16,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr stated. “I might comment on the free throws that they shot.” “I won’t address Steph’s three free throws in forty-three minutes.”
Curry scored 25 points or more in a game for the fifth time in a row. It was his second straight game with six or more three-pointers and his third in five. It was his 65th career 40-point game and his third this season.
Together, James and Davis shot 14 of 19 in the first half, 25 of 49 for the game, and helped the team to a 55-50 rebounding advantage.
The Warriors had a season-high point total and a season-high 23 3-pointers made. For the first time this season, Jonathan Kuminga and Draymond Green shared the floor for the opening tip as Golden State employed their fifteenth starting lineup.
The Warriors suffered their second consecutive painful loss after falling to Sacramento 134-133 on Thursday night in another 2023 playoff rematch. The Warriors won Game 7 of their first-round showdown against the Kings.
Kuminga scored 22 points on Thursday to build on his career-high 31-point explosion. In a record six straight games, he has scored 20 points or more.
