LeBron James vs. Stephen Curry continues to be the NBA’s finest theater

SAN FRANCISCO — The frustration seethed in Stephen Curry. Until it boiled to the floor. Until he let loose a roar. Until he ripped his jersey from the collar to the 30.

He’d scored 46 factors on 35 photographs, getting the advantage of simply three free throws in his 43 minutes. He hit the game-tying layup on the finish of regulation. Inside the ultimate minute of the primary extra time, he compelled a turnover after which hit a large nook 3, establishing the game-tying 3 from Klay Thompson that stored the Warriors alive. Then within the second extra time, Curry’s closing factors of the night time got here on a 26-footer from the highest with 4.7 seconds remaining, placing the Warriors up a degree.

He left his follow-through within the air as he backpedaled. Too spent for a extra elaborate celebration. The NBA’s chief in clutch factors delivered 19 extra on this double-overtime affair, together with 10 within the second extra time. On most nights, it could’ve been sufficient.

MAMA, THERE GOES THAT MAN ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/KsIABjnkfV

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) January 28, 2024

But on the opposite workforce was Curry’s associate in magnificence. His most validating and valiant foe. LeBron James. They’ve exchanged heartbreaks and hugs through the years. James, whose Lakers eradicated Curry’s Warriors from the playoffs final 12 months, had extra heartbreak handy Curry.

The 39-year-old James beat a rookie almost half his age off the dribble, blew previous one other younger, spry athlete and powered up for a powerful assault on the rim. He drew the foul and, punctuating his spectacular night time, swished a pair of free throws to present the Lakers the win, 145-144. James’ 36 factors, 20 rebounds and 12 assists in almost 48 minutes indicted his beginning certificates for fraud.

They aren’t profitable like they’re used to, each needing all they’ve simply to remain within the race, each hoping to seek out essential assist to get them again to the realm of the contenders. But Saturday confirmed Curry and LeBron are nonetheless fascinating. It will probably be a decade this coming February since LeBron’s buzzer-beating 3 towards the Warriors at Oracle in Oakland debuted “The Silencer” celebration and sparked this duo into must-watch theater. All these years later, once they share a court docket, it’s nonetheless the NBA’s finest theater.

“It’s something that you will truly take all in when you’re done playing,” LeBron James mentioned throughout his on-court interview, “and be able to watch with your grandkids and say that I played against one of the best players ever to play this game. Steph, after the game, came to me and said, ‘How does it keep getting better? How do we keep getting better?’ I think it’s just a true testament to us putting the work in in the game, being true to the game, and the game just continues to give back to us.” 

James, and D’Angelo Russell, made positive one other shut recreation slipped by way of the fingers of the Warriors. But this time, it wasn’t a lot about what the Warriors didn’t do. This loss wasn’t due to a head-scratching turnover, as was the gut-wrenching loss to Sacramento two nights earlier. Or a questionable teaching choice. Or as a result of they fell aside towards an onslaught. Or even due to missed photographs.

Still, one among their finest efforts counts as however a near-win. A tease. The Warriors at the moment are 15-13 in clutch video games with Curry (0-4 with out him). They’re 5 video games beneath .500 and nonetheless on the surface of the postseason subject. They can play in addition to anybody however not win as often as the higher groups.

“Our whole season,” Curry mentioned, “we’ve had some tough breaks, some self-inflicted wounds. Some games that obviously you should have won and there’s disappointment walking off the floor. … We fought the whole way. Stayed in it even when things weren’t going our way, gave ourselves an opportunity. It goes down to the last possession three or four times in regulation, both overtimes. It just shows that we really want it. We’re playing with a little bit of desperation trying to change the tide of our season and just don’t have nothing to show for it right now.”

LeBron James and Stephen Curry mixed for 82 factors on 60 photographs and loads of highlights in Saturday’s double-overtime thriller in San Francisco. (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)

But their peak continues to be excessive sufficient to get intoxicated. Saturday was a gallery of their finest.

Curry, clearly. Draymond Green was each bit the distinction maker he’s at all times been, on each ends, and the flamable will that always burns him on this night time stored the Warriors firing. Thompson was classic within the second half after a brutal first half. His protection on LeBron, his shot-making, his aggressive spirit. Jonathan Kuminga was prepared and impactful. His 22 factors and 9 rebounds in 43 minutes confirmed he can play at this stage. He ought to also have a bigger position within the offense.

Head coach Steve Kerr is definite a run is coming. His Warriors are prepared for a breakthrough. They’ve bought another recreation on this homestand, towards Philadelphia, earlier than a street journey that begins with three shedding groups.

It’s solely doable if the Warriors’ resolve is stronger than their jersey cloth.

“Our guys were amazing, they were amazing,” Kerr mentioned. “The way they battled, competed, and stayed in the game. Made so many plays. Just felt like we deserved to win that game the way the guys fought. So many plays that could have gone either way. That just felt like a game that we deserved to win. As long as we keep playing the way we played tonight, then I think we’re going to turn this around and have a great season. I really believe that.”

The Lakers are in the identical scenario, although a bit nearer to the place they need to be than the Warriors because of a extra steady basis with James and an elite model of Anthony Davis. Their finest, too, seems worthy. The Warriors appear to convey that out of them.

But taking part in their finest in moments, in video games, isn’t their drawback. It’s sustainability. It’s the consistency and flexibility of their greatness that’s missing. They can’t appear to do it each night time. They can’t appear to summon it in a number of methods.

The Lakers and the Warriors.

Saturday conspired to conjure the greatness from each groups. A primary-time recreation. One of nice significance to each middling squads. The Hall of Fame presence all around the ground. The appreciation for the stage, the second, and to nonetheless be on it.

They delivered a thriller. They lived as much as their names. Multiple instances, Curry took issues into his personal fingers and delivered like a celebrity. But this night time, LeBron James had the ball final.

So Curry left the court docket overcome with frustration. With his jersey in his personal fingers.

“Actually makes it worse,” Curry mentioned. “Makes, misses or whatever, there’s an energy about what we’re trying to do. So the good news is if we can keep doing that, you would like to think that you could build momentum, and that’s that’s what our hope is. But it’s just a tough … back-to-back games at home that you play well enough to win and just don’t get it done.”

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(Top photograph of LeBron James and Stephen Curry after Saturday’s recreation: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)