LeBron James delivered a clutch performance as he led the Los Angeles Lakers to a thrilling 145-144 double-overtime victory over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night.
James, the oldest player in the NBA at 39, scored 36 points, grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds, and dished out 12 assists, becoming the first Lakers player to record a 30-20-10 triple-double since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1976.
James also hit the game-winning free throws with 1.2 seconds left in the second overtime, after driving to the basket and drawing a foul. He sealed the win by blocking Stephen Curry’s three-point attempt at the buzzer. Curry, who had a game-high 46 points and seven assists, had given the Warriors a one-point lead with a deep three-pointer with 5.9 seconds remaining.
The game was a back-and-forth battle between two of the best players in the league, who exchanged words of respect and admiration after the final whistle. “Steph came to me after the game and said ‘how does it keep getting better?’” James said. “It’s something that you will truly take all in when you are done playing.
When you are able to watch with your grandkids and say that I played against one of the best ever to play this game.”
The Lakers, who snapped a four-game losing streak, also got contributions from Anthony Davis (29 points, 13 rebounds), D’Angelo Russell (29 points), Austin Reaves (17 points, six assists), and Jarred Vanderbilt (14 points, nine rebounds, five assists, four steals, +30).
The Warriors, who had won six of their last seven games, also had solid performances from Klay Thompson (28 points), Draymond Green (12 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists), and Jordan Poole (18 points).
The Lakers improved to 24-23 and moved up to the seventh spot in the Western Conference standings, while the Warriors dropped to 31-16 and remained in the third place. The two teams will meet again on February 12 at the Staples Center.
