
The Los Angeles Lakers took on the Golden State Warriors as part of NBA Rivals Week. This is the first of four meetings between these two teams this season. The last time these two teams faced each other was in the second round of the 2023 NBA playoffs in which the Lakers eliminated the Warriors in six games.
Anytime Lebron James and Stephen Curry go head-to-head, they always put on a show. And tonight was no different. We witnessed the first regular season matchup between these two players in overtime (and later double overtime).
Game Recap/Biggest Moments
Both teams got off to a hot start, hitting their shots and making plays on the defensive end. Lebron scored nine points in the first quarter while Curry scored 11 points. Both players set the tone for how the game was going to go, and it only got crazier from there.
The game was back and forth in the first half as both teams took turns taking the lead as well as tying the game. Neither side allowed the lead to grow past five points.
Lebron scored the last seven points for the Lakers, including a buzzer-beater jump shot to end the first half. The third quarter was all about the Warriors, as they have been known to be one of the best third-quarter teams in the league. They went on a 10-0 run to retake the lead. They retook the lead and increased it to 15, which was the biggest lead in the game for either side.
The Lakers responded with a 14-0 run to cut it to one. They were able to get back into the game by making their free throws. Because the Golden State Warriors are a small team, they sometimes struggle to defend, leading to them committing personal fouls. Their inability to defend without fouling allows their opponents to negate the three-point pointing with free throws.
The Warriors still maintained the lead, but the Lakers were not going away that easily. It continued to be a back-and-forth game. At the 3:58 mark in the fourth quarter, Steph Curry hit a three-point shot to put the Warriors up by nine.
From there, the Lakers 12-0 to retake the lead by three. Curry came back and hit a shot to cut it to one. He was able to tie the game and force overtime after Anthony Davis missed one of his free throws.
Both teams wasted no time getting to the basket and making their shots once overtime began. For a moment it looked like the Lakers were going to win it, until Klay Thompson went back on the other end and hit a three that would lead to double overtime.
Double overtime was the Lebron and Curry show, as they took turns hitting shots that just everyone in awe. Three straight Los Angeles Lakers turnovers allowed the Warriors to take the lead for the first time since the fourth quarter.
D’Angelo Russell came back on the other end and hit a three to put the Lakers up by one. Then a missed free throw by Austin Reaves allowed the Warriors to take the lead once again thanks to a deep three-point shot by Curry.
That could have been the game-winner…until Lebron drove to the basket on the other end and had to go to the free-throw line. He made both free throws, which was the game’s end. Final score 145-144.
Lebron James finished with 36 points, 20 rebounds (career high), and 12 assists on 56% shooting. Steph Curry finished with 46 points and seven assists. This was truly the game of the year and a fantastic way to end NBA Rivals Week.
Photo Courtesy: @TheHoopCentral


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