SAN FRANCISCO – Austin Reaves scored the game-winning basket with one second on the clock after Stephen Curry tied it with a 31-foot three-pointer with seven seconds remaining. LeBron James, meanwhile, had an impressive performance with 31 points and 10 assists in his 19th Christmas game, an NBA record. The Los Angeles Lakers managed to resist the Golden State Warriors, winning 115-113 on Wednesday evening.
Curry finished the game with 38 points, including eight three-pointers. He hit a game-winning shot from downfield with 12 seconds remaining, but James responded with a long-range shot at the other end of the court.
Reaves recorded a triple-double with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Lakers, who had to do without their pivot Anthony Davis, out with an injury (sprained left ankle) at the end of the first quarter.
Details
For the Lakers, D'Angelo Russell was also out with a sprained left thumb. Center Jaxson Hayes completed a few 3-on-3 drills with the coaching staff and is progressing in his rehabilitation after a sprained right ankle, which has kept him off the field since mid-November.
As for the Warriors, the team recorded its 11th defeat in 14 games. Draymond Green received his eighth technical late in the second quarter, moving closer to an automatic suspension that comes after 16 technical fouls.
Key moment
As James charged at him, Curry made a three-pointer at the 10:59 mark of the second quarter, closely followed by a shot from James 17 seconds later. These two superstars have previously feuded during the Christmases of 2015, 2016 and 2018, following the clashes between the Warriors and James' Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.
Key Status
Curry became the seventh player in NBA history to start at least 11 games on Dec. 25, joining James, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Dwyane Wade, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. For his part, James celebrated his 11th victory on December 25, surpassing the previous record of his former teammate, Wade.
Next meetings
The Warriors will travel to the Clippers on Friday night, while the Lakers will return home to host Sacramento on Saturday.
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Original article written by: Associated Press
Takeaways
- Austin Reaves demonstrated a great ability to shine under pressure with his decisive basket.
- The absence of Anthony Davis could pose challenges for the Lakers in the upcoming games.
- The Warriors will have to re-evaluate their strategy, their losing streak is worrying.
- The ongoing duel between Curry and James remains a captivating spectacle in basketball history.
In a world as competitive as the NBA, each game and each performance can have significant repercussions, not only on the rankings, but also on team dynamics. Christmas games add an extra layer of pressure and excitement. What will be the repercussions of this meeting for the two teams heading into the second half of the season?
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