LeBron James and Stephen Curry balled out in the Lakers’ thrilling win over the Warriors.
On Saturday night at the Chase Center, LeBron James — the oldest player in the NBA — set a career-high with 20 rebounds, became the first Los Angeles Lakers player to drop a 30-20-10 triple-double since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1976, and led his team to a 145-144 double-overtime win over Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.
The increasingly resilient Lakers clawed back from a 15-point deficit. James was flanked by a hobbled Anthony Davis (45 minutes, 29 points, 13 rebounds), D’Angelo Russell (49 minutes, 29 points), Austin Reaves (47 minutes, 17 points, six assists), and Jarred Vanderbilt (14 points, nine rebounds, five assists, four steals, +30) — all of whom eclipsed 40 minutes and played the vast majority of crunch- and extra-time.
In 48 minutes, the 39-year-old tallied 36 points on 14-for-25 shooting, to go along with the 20 boards and 12 assists. His clutch free throws with 1.2 seconds left — resulting from a hard paint attack — put the Lakers in front, once and for all (he missed a runner at the end of OT).
“I’m very thankful that I get to coach him,” said Darvin Ham, who called the win a “shot in the arm” for his 24-23 ballclub. (Vanderbilt expressed similar sentiments).
Curry poured in 46 points, highlighted by a dazzling layup around Davis to force overtime and an array of clutch buckets in overtime. His triple with 5.9 seconds put the Warriors up one before LeBron’s response.
“How does it keep getting better,” LeBron could be heard telling Curry on the court.
The subtext became the text throughout this thriller. Ostensibly, this game is about the Lakers beating the Warriors — two marquee West foes seeking consistency and play-in positioning — and the countless decisions and bounces that produced a one-point margin.
Beyond the 2023-24 context, though, this instant classic served as a never-unwelcome reminder to appreciate these two intertwined icons, whose remaining showdowns are, theoretically, numbered.
“It’s something I’ll be able to talk about with my grandkids, talk about being able to compete with one of the greatest players to ever play the game,” said LeBron. “It’s been a treat… For us to be able to push each other at this stage of our careers, you just don’t take it for granted.”
We just saw two of the all-time greats play superb! LeBron James hit two clutch free throws to seal the game and finished with a 36-20-12 triple double, and my man Steph Curry put on a shooting clinic tonight scoring 46 points in a losing effort.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 28, 2024
LeBron James vs. Stephen Curry. It never gets old. At some point, these guys will, too.
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