San Francisco (AFP) – With a stratospheric triple double and two decisive free throws, LeBron James commanded the Los Angeles Lakers’ 145-144 victory over Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors on Saturday, which was resolved in a tachycardia double overtime.
James, the oldest player in the NBA at 39 years old, finished with an astonishing 36 points, 20 rebounds (a career record) and 12 assists to win a frenetic battle with Curry, who reached 46 points with 9 triples and 7 assists.
The 18,000 fans at the Warriors’ Chase Center vibrated with one of the best games of this season in the NBA, which recalled the battles that LeBron James, then leading the Cavaliers, had last decade against Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green in four consecutive Finals.
After countless script twists, ‘King James’ sealed the game in favor of the Lakers by receiving a personal foul with just one second left and cold-bloodedly converting both free throws.
“I don’t think I am (the oldest player). I don’t feel like that,” said the forward with a smile after being on the court for 48 minutes.
“I go out to compete and I feel young,” said James, who continues to amaze in his twenty-first season in the NBA.
The Lakers, who overcame a 15-point deficit, had had great opportunities to seal the victory early.
At the end of the last quarter, Anthony Davis (29 points and 13 rebounds) missed a free throw that allowed Curry, in a spectacular action in which he dribbled past the center himself, to score a layup and send the duel to the first overtime.
The Los Angeles team once again had a three-point lead with 11 seconds left in overtime but Klay Thompson tied it with one of his 6 triples and LeBron missed a shot at the buzzer defended by Green.
In the second overtime it was the Warriors who were up one point in the last five seconds after a three-pointer by Curry, but James made a powerful run and was fouled by Green, allowing him to finish the victory from the free throw line.
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks with Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors after Saturday’s game. © EZRA SHAW / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
“It’s something that will really sink in when you finish playing and watch it with your grandchildren. I can say that I have played against one of the best to have ever played in this sport,” James said of Curry, with whom he embraced in a hug after the game. battle.
– Nuggets beat Sixers without Embiid –
In another of the 10 games on Saturday, the Denver Nuggets beat the Philadelphia 76ers 111-105 in a game in which Cameroonian Joel Embiid was absent at the last minute due to discomfort in his left knee.
The absence of the Sixers star, author of 70 points on Monday against Spurs, ruined the expected fight between the last winners of the MVP award that he was going to have with Jokic
The Cameroonian has not played a game in Denver since 2019, which led the public to mock his absence by chanting “Where is Embiid?”
Jokic was the star of the night with 26 points, 16 rebounds and 7 assists.
Spurs surprise Minnesota
Saturday’s surprise was carried out by the San Antonio Spurs, last ranked in the Western Conference, who beat the Minnesota Timberwolves, second, 113-112.
French centers Victor Wembanyama (left), of the Spurs, and Rudy Gobert, of the Timberwolves, fight for the ball in Saturday’s game. © SUZANNE CORDEIRO / AFP
French rookie Victor Wembanyama once again showed his extraordinary potential with 23 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks.
Wembanyama, the tall 2.24m tall center, was not intimidated by Minnesota’s two big men, his compatriot Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns, who both had 19 points.
Another game with an unexpected outcome was the 115-96 beating of the Los Angeles Clippers on the court of the Boston Celtics, leaders of the East.
Costly Knicks victory
In New York, the Knicks beat the Miami Heat 125-109 in a victory that could be very expensive due to the shoulder injury suffered by their figure Julius Randle.
Point guard Jalen Brunson led the New York attack with 32 points and Jimmy Butler of the Heat with another 28.
For their part, the Dallas Mavericks lost 120-115 to the Sacramento Kings. Luka Doncic, who had scored 73 points the day before (fourth highest score in history), was not as successful in shooting but finished with a triple double of 28 points, 10 rebounds and 17 assists.
— Saturday’s NBA results:
Detroit Pistons – Washington Wizards 104-118
NY Knicks – Miami Heat 125-109
Denver Nuggets – Philadelphia 76ers 111-105
Brooklyn Nets – Houston Rockets 106-104
Boston Celtics – LA Clippers 96-115
Charlotte Hornets – Utah Jazz 122-134
Milwaukee Bucks – New Orleans Pelicans 141-117
San Antonio Spurs – Minnesota Timberwolves 113-1
Golden State Warriors – LA Lakers 144-145 (double overtime)
Dallas Mavericks – Sacramento Kings 115-120
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