Two of the all-time greats put on a show for the basketball public on Saturday night in San Francisco, and it was LeBron James and the Lakers delivering the final blow in a heavyweight fight against Steph Curry and his Golden State Warriors, as LeBron’s two free throws with 1.2 seconds left in double overtime proved the final difference in a 145-144 battle.
Amidst a 21st NBA season of entirely unprecedented production, continuing a career explained in part by being voted to start a record 20th All-Star game, LeBron grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds with 36 points and 12 assists to secure the first 30+ point triple-double for the Lakers since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1976.
He needed all of that, because Curry went off for 46 points, on 17 of 35 FG’s, including 9 of 21 3’s, plus seven assists. Then he embraced LeBron postgame, only to, understandably, tear his jersey in frustration at the loss as he walked off the court.
“Just a treat to go against one of the greatest to ever play this game,” said LeBron shortly after the final buzzer. “For us to continue to push each other at this stage of our careers, you don’t take that for granted because you don’t know how many times you’re actually going to get the moment to actually be on the same floor with such a talent. So it’s been a treat so far in my career.”
Opposite LeBron, Curry was hitting what felt like one dagger after another. With L.A. leading 117-114 at the end of the fourth quarter, Curry converted a tough layup to get GSW within one with 15.8 second left. Then he tied the game with 5.9 seconds left after Anthony Davis – who had 29 points, 13 boards and four blocks despite suffering a hip spasm – split a pair of free throws.
LeBron scored six of L.A.’s first eight points in the first OT, only to watch the 35-year-old Curry drill a three to get his team within one with 53.4 seconds left; then Steph served as a decoy to set up a Klay Thompson three that forced double OT.
Curry and James exchanged blows yet again in that period, with the NBA’s all-time leading 3-point shooter hitting his eighth three to make it 141-139, less than a minute after L.A. had gone up by four behind LeBron and D’Angelo Russell’s offense.
It was Russell who countered with his fifth 3-pointer – all coming after halftime – to put L.A. back on top with 53.1 seconds left. And yet, after Austin Reaves split a pair of FT’s, Curry got free for his ninth triple, putting the Warriors up 144-143 with 5.9 seconds left as the players and fans alike stood dumbfounded.
On the ensuing Lakers possession, LeBron finished the job. He gathered the ball atop the three-point line, and quickly burst past rookie Brandon Podziemski, and then Jonathan Kuminga, before drawing a foul on Draymond Green at the rim with 1.2 seconds left. The King stepped up and swished both free throws, ignoring the 48 minutes on his 39-year-old legs, then watched as Curry missed a full-court heave at the buzzer.
Indeed, this was the first time in NBA history that opposing players over 35 scored at least 35 apiece.
“It’s something I’ll be able to talk about with my grandkids,” said LeBron. “When you talk about me being able to compete vs. one of the greatest players to ever play the game … for us to continue to push each other at the state of our careers, you don’t take it for granted.”
“I can’t imagine a scenario where a game like tonight happens, (LeBron) in season 21 and me in Year 15,” said Curry. “You look forward to the battles, but you also appreciate the mutual respect of what it takes to keep doing what you’re doing at this level. Only a few people know how hard it is. I’m happy to be in that group.”
Before the game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr was asked about LeBron and Steph, and the years of battles that culminated in the four consecutive NBA Finals showdowns from from 2015-18.
“Really incredible,” he reflected. “What I see is LeBron has always been one of the great physical specimens, not only in the league but on the planet, but he developed his skill in the second half of his career. Steph was the opposite, he was one of the most skilled guys right away, and he developed his body. So what I love about the two guys is they each were already great players, but they identified where they could get better and put in the work, and the work is year round.
“You can see it, how prepared they are for every season. They're two of the all-time greats because of that, not just the skill or the athleticism, but the awareness of what they need to do to keep getting better, and keep getting better, over, and over, and over again. It’s incredibly inspiring.”
After being informed of Kerr’s comments, LeBron was reflective.
“Yeah, in order to be great in this league for a long period of time, be sustainable and have longevity in this league, you have to be able to have a growth mindset, you have to be able to adapt to the game and be able to put the work in in order for you to sustain a level of excellence,” he said. “I think Steve is correct in a lot of the things that he said for the simple fact that over the years, Steph has put the work into his body. Because you gotta play so many games, he’s played in the Finals for years and years and years, so, to be able to take that type of physical play out there on the floor when guys are trying to rough him up and things of that nature, he’s put a lot of muscle into it, he obviously came in with the skill.
“For me, it’s just always about, I understand that my body is my temple in order for me to be great, and I’ve always wanted to be one of the greatest to ever play this game, and the only way to do that is to be available for your team. So just working on my game and putting the work in and being able to trust it on the floor.”
The Lakers, now 24-23 with five games left on their Grammy Road Trip, and Warriors, 19-24, play three more times this season: Feb. 22; March 16; and April 9.
We can hope for another classic duel between a pair of legends, but boy, have they already given us more than enough to savor into NBA eternity.