In a mostly back-and-forth affair that saw several players step up and both teams trade haymaker plays to try to seize control of the game, it was the Lakers who were able to hold on in double overtime to take down the Warriors 145-144 in an instant classic showdown between division and conference rivals.
LeBron James not only led the way for the Lakers, but he scored the game clinching points in the 2nd extra frame, going to the foul line with his team trailing by one and then calmly sinking two free throws to seal the victory. With just 4.7 second left on the clock on the inbounds, James caught the ball 25 feet from the hoop, but put his head down -- somehow finding the legs after playing 48 minutes to beat his defender -- and then drew a foul when he attempted to finish in the paint to earn his trip to the stripe.
LeBron's brilliance was not just limited to that final possession, however, as he pulled down a career-high 20 rebounds (19 on the defensive end) and dished out 12 assists to go along with 36 points on 14 of 25 shooting. James is the first Laker since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to record a game with at least 35 points, 20 rebounds, and 12 assists, and only the third Laker to ever accomplish the feat joining Kareem and Elgin Baylor. Overall, LeBron's shot making and all-court game was only matched by his competitive spirit to not let his lose this game against his longtime rival Steph Curry and the Warriors.
Beyond LeBron, both Anthony Davis and D'Angelo Russell had big games and provided huge contributions to the win.
After going just 3-10 for nine points through the first three quarters. Russell connected on five of his next nine shot attempts -- four of which were three pointers -- to finish the game with 28 points and five assists. Russell played with great confidence and moxie over the course of the 4th quarter and two overtime periods, including a crucial five-point sequence in that final period after the Warriors had gone up nine with just four minutes left and then again on a huge three pointer with under a minute remaining in the 2nd OT in which he pulled up from behind the arc on a two-on-one fast break and buried a triple that took his team from down two points to up one.
Russell's level of shooting and his confidence to even take some of the shots he did offered a balance to the team's attack that did not allow the Warriors to key on on the team's superstars.
As for AD, he scored 29 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and handed out three assists while going 11 of 24 from the field and seven of nine from the foul line. His night was broken up by an injury scare after a collision with Draymond Green and Steph Curry aggravated sent him to the locker room halfway through the 3rd quarter, but he was able to return and finish the game, playing all by three minutes of the 4th quarter and the entirety of both OT's to provide a presence in the paint on both ends of the floor.
Of course, a classic game is not made with just a single side playing well. The Warriors were up to the challenge and matched the Lakers every step of the way, looking like they were ready to wrestle control of the game completely away or simply seize the momentum they could ride to a win with huge shots that either tied or took the lead in both of the overtimes.
Steph Curry, as he has been so many times, was the architect of it all with an incredible night to carry his team. Curry scored a season-high 46 points on 17 of 35 shooting, including connecting on nine of his 21 attempts from beyond the arc. Curry hit shot after shot to either tie or take the lead, including the critical three to give the Warriors the one-point lead in the final seconds of the 2nd overtime that ultimately were erased by LeBron's free throws.
Before those huge Curry buckets, though, it looked like the Warriors would never need it to get to that point at all, taking control of the game in the 3rd quarter when they turned a halftime deficit into a big lead on the strength of a 25-5 run to start the period. With the Lakers starters unable to gain traction on either side of the ball, the Warriors jumped on their opportunity to gain an edge and promptly went up by double digits on a string of made threes and transition dunks that animated their team and the crowd.
After the game, LeBron spoke about the Warriors push in that period and how important it was for the Lakers to keep their wits and not get too down while continuing to fight through the final buzzer.
"The game's not over until it's over, obviously until (the clock) hit's all zeroes," LeBron said. "So, you just try continue to make plays, no matter we make a run, they make a run -- you know, they've been a 3rd quarter team for the last decade, and they jumped on us in that 3rd quarter and we just kept composure and stayed in the game."
It was not just composure that kept them in the game, though, it was also hustle, defense, and an energy -- much of which was brought by Jarred Vanderbilt. After the starters' struggles coming out of the half, Vanderbilt entered the game and instantly made a difference with his defensive intensity and ability to stay connected on shooters coming off screens, be disruptive in the passing lanes, and help finish possessions with the ball via defensive rebounds.
Vando finished the game with 14 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and four steals, a testament to the activity and all-court nature of his game. But, the biggest stat of all was his +30 in the boxscore which was indicative of how effective the team was with him on the floor in his nearly 41 minutes of action on the evening.
Ultimately, though, this was a great team win in which there were multiple key factors that allowed the Lakers to outlast Golden State. Whether it was their ability to draw fouls and connect on their (38 of 43 at the foul line), winning the points in the paint battle, or getting out in transition, the Lakers were able to stack enough wins on the margins to make up for the Warriors superior shot making from beyond the arc.
And, so, the Lakers begin their road trip with a much-needed victory that they will try to build on as they head out to Houston to face the Rockets on Tuesday.