Lakers’ LeBron James, Warriors’ Stephen Curry add to traditional rivalry in 2-OT duel

SAN FRANCISCO — It took a statistical achievement that LeBron James had by no means reached earlier than in 1,463 profession regular-season video games, an additional 10 minutes of recreation time and two swished free throws with 1.2 seconds remaining earlier than the Los Angeles Lakers star may declare victory over his longtime nemesis, Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.

The Lakers gained 145-144 in double time beyond regulation on Saturday with James placing up 36 factors, a career-best 20 rebounds and 12 assists, edging Curry’s game-high 46 factors — together with 15 within the OT intervals — straight away traditional between the 2 surefire Corridor of Famers.

“It is one thing I am going to be capable to speak about with my grandkids,” James stated of his matchup with Curry. “While you speak about me with the ability to compete versus one of many best gamers to ever play the sport.”

The sport was scheduled as a part of the NBA’s Rivals Week, and it didn’t disappoint, with the 39-year-old James and the 35-year-old Curry wanting each bit as masterful as they did when their groups met within the NBA Finals 4 consecutive instances.

“It has been a deal with to go in opposition to one of many best to ever play this recreation,” James stated. “For us to proceed to push one another on the state of our careers, you do not take it without any consideration as a result of you do not know what number of instances you are truly going to get the second to really be on the identical flooring with such a expertise.”

Whereas James’ Lakers gained the championship in 2020 for his fourth ring and Curry’s Warriors gained all of it two years later for his fourth title, each gamers’ groups have fallen on difficult instances.

The Lakers’ win lifted them to 24-23, ninth within the Western Convention. The loss dropped the Warriors to 19-24, No. 12 within the West.

For an evening, nevertheless, the workforce information did not replicate the competitors on the court docket.

“Yearly that we get to do that and trip, the battles — the Finals runs, the playoff battles final yr — after the horn sounded tonight there was a bit chuckle of, I am unable to think about a state of affairs the place a recreation like tonight occurs, [with] him in Season 21 and me in 12 months 15,” Curry stated. “You look ahead to the battles, however you additionally recognize the mutual respect of what it takes to maintain doing what you are doing at this degree. Just a few individuals understand how arduous it’s. I am joyful to be in that group.”

James’ clutch free throws had been wanted due to Curry’s brilliance down the stretch. He scored a layup over Anthony Davis with 5.9 seconds remaining in regulation to pressure time beyond regulation, and in time beyond regulation he hit a 3 with 53.4 seconds left to chop L.A.’s lead from 4 to at least one, establishing Klay Thompson to tie the rating a few possessions later to increase the motion. Within the second time beyond regulation, Curry hit a 3 from the highest of the important thing — his ninth of the night time — to place the Warriors up by one with 5.9 seconds to go.

That is when James, who missed a possible successful fadeaway shot from midrange on the finish of the primary time beyond regulation, drove on Draymond Inexperienced and obtained fouled to arrange the ultimate free throws.

“I used to be capable of get a bit little bit of an angle on the second OT and I used to be capable of drive, taking a Eurostep form of again to the precise hand, and I used to be capable of get a foul known as on Draymond and stepped up and made the free throws,” James stated.

The win jump-started an important six-game highway journey for L.A. because it tries to make up for its monthlong tailspin that adopted its in-season event championship victory in Las Vegas.

The Lakers will go to the Houston Rockets on Monday and hope that Davis, who needed to depart the sport after experiencing hip spasms, can play.

However the night time supplied an opportunity to look again, slightly than look forward, as James and Curry added one other chapter to their interwoven story.

“Credit score to LeBron for what he is doing at his age. I imply, that man is a freak of nature by way of his capacity to play at this degree for therefore lengthy. Similar with Steph,” Thompson stated. “While you’re youthful, you do not ever actually assume that basketball will cease as a result of it is what you’re keen on. It is all you do. However if you get to your 30s, you understand there’s an finish level to being an athlete. Realizing that, I’m very grateful to step on the ground with these guys and play in opposition to LeBron.”