Rivals week ended with an excellent game between the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers. Steph Curry had 46 on the night, 10 points in double overtime, and two threes with under two minutes to go in the game. It wasn’t enough, though, as LeBron James posted a career-high in rebounds and willed the Lakers to a win while becoming only the third Laker in franchise history to record 30 points, 20 rebounds, and ten assists in a game, along with Elgin Baylor and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors Exchange Last Second Leads
The final moments of the double overtime game were a back-and-forth duel between two NBA greats. Down 139-135 with the clock ticking down the last two minutes, Klay Thompson hit a three to get the Warriors within one. Klay finished the game with 24 points before fouling out for the first time since January of 2023, with a little over a minute left. In the next series, Curry, with Anthony Davis guarding him, buried a tough step-back three-point shot with 1:22 remaining in the game to give the Warriors a two-point lead. D’Angelo Russell had a great game with 28 points while shooting 63% from beyond the arc and draining a clutch three of his own with under a minute left, putting the Lakers on top. After a Warrior’s miss on the other end while down 143-141 with 13 seconds left, Golden State fouled Austin Reaves. Reaves went 1 of 2 at the free throw line, giving the Warriors the opening they needed. Steph hit an incredible shot with 4.7 seconds left, giving the Warriors a 144-143 lead with a classic Mike Breen call.
“BANG, BANG, CURRY FROM DOWNTOWN!”
Steph Curry gives the Warriors a 1-point lead with 4.7 seconds remaining 😱pic.twitter.com/5LP3cBb4al
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 28, 2024
Steve Kerr “Not Gonna Comment” on Free Throw Discrepancy
In the end, LeBron James drove to the rim and was fouled by Draymond Green on a drive with only a second left in the game. James made both free throws as he went 6/6 from the free throw line on the night, giving the Lakers the win in double overtime on the road. LeBron, as the oldest player in the NBA, finished the game with an astonishing 36 points, 20 rebounds, and 12 assists in 48 minutes. After the game, in his post-game interview, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr talked about the free-throw discrepancy between the two teams, stating, “I might comment on the free throws that they shot, but my mom is here right now, and I want to be on my best behavior so I’m not going to comment on the 43 free throws to our 16. I’m not gonna comment on Steph shooting three free throws and 43 minutes. I’m not gonna comment on that.” Kerr is obviously frustrated as this loss gives the Warriors a 19-24 record as the trade deadline approaches.
The 9th-seeded Lakers are attempting to climb up the Western Conference Standings with their 24-23 record and a road trip coming up. Los Angeles should have two easy matchups to start their five-game road trip against the Houston Rockets and the Atlanta Hawks. However, LeBron and Anthony Davis likely will sit out one of these games against these teams after playing extended minutes in the double-overtime win against the Warriors. The Lakers will have tough matchups against the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks before ending the long road trip against the Charlotte Hornets right before the February 9th trade deadline.
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1 Comment
Felt like I was at the game — such detail! Lakers were my husbands favorite team so I do try to follow them.
Thanks for making it a bit more interesting for me.