LeBron James vs. Stephen Curry is still the NBA’s best theater

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

He’d scored 46 factors on 35 pictures, getting the good thing about 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 time beyond regulation, he compelled a turnover after which hit an enormous nook 3, establishing the game-tying 3 from Klay Thompson that saved the Warriors alive. Then within the second time beyond regulation, Curry’s last factors of the evening 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 time beyond regulation. On most nights, it could’ve been sufficient.

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

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

However on the opposite crew was Curry’s companion 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 yr, had extra heartbreak handy Curry.

The 39-year-old James beat a rookie practically 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 evening, swished a pair of free throws to present the Lakers the win, 145-144. James’ 36 factors, 20 rebounds and 12 assists in practically 48 minutes indicted his start certificates for fraud.

They aren’t successful 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. However Saturday confirmed Curry and LeBron are nonetheless charming. It will likely be a decade this coming February since LeBron’s buzzer-beating 3 in opposition to the Warriors at Oracle in Oakland debuted “The Silencer” celebration and sparked this duo into must-watch theater. All these years later, after they share a courtroom, it’s nonetheless the NBA’s finest theater.

“It’s one thing that you’ll really take all in while you’re carried out enjoying,” LeBron James mentioned throughout his on-court interview, “and have the ability to watch together with your grandkids and say that I performed in opposition to the most effective gamers ever to play this sport. Steph, after the sport, got here to me and mentioned, ‘How does it preserve getting higher? How can we preserve getting higher?’ I feel it’s only a true testomony to us placing the work in within the sport, being true to the sport, and the sport simply continues to present again to us.”

James, and D’Angelo Russell, made certain one other shut sport slipped by means of the fingers of the Warriors. However 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 in opposition to an onslaught. And even due to missed pictures.

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

“Our complete season,” Curry mentioned, “we’ve had some powerful breaks, some self-inflicted wounds. Some video games that clearly it is best to have received and there’s disappointment strolling off the ground. … We fought the entire approach. Stayed in it even when issues weren’t going our approach, gave ourselves a chance. It goes right down to the final possession three or 4 instances in regulation, each overtimes. It simply reveals that we actually need it. We’re enjoying with somewhat little bit of desperation making an attempt to alter the tide of our season and simply don’t don’t have anything to point out for it proper now.”

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

However their peak remains to be excessive sufficient to get intoxicated. Saturday was a gallery of their finest.

Curry, clearly. Draymond Inexperienced was each bit the distinction maker he’s all the time been, on each ends, and the flamable will that always burns him on this evening saved 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 actually have a bigger function within the offense.

Head coach Steve Kerr is for certain a run is coming. His Warriors are prepared for a breakthrough. They’ve obtained yet one more sport on this homestand, in opposition to Philadelphia, earlier than a street journey that begins with three shedding groups.

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

“Our guys have been wonderful, they have been wonderful,” Kerr mentioned. “The best way they battled, competed, and stayed within the sport. Made so many performs. Simply felt like we deserved to win that sport the best way the fellows fought. So many performs that would have gone both approach. That simply felt like a sport that we deserved to win. So long as we preserve enjoying the best way we performed tonight, then I feel we’re going to show this round and have an important season. I actually consider that.”

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

However enjoying their finest in moments, in video games, isn’t their downside. It’s sustainability. It’s the consistency and flexibility of their greatness that’s missing. They will’t appear to do it each evening. They will’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 first-rate-time sport. One in every of nice significance to each middling squads. The Corridor 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. A number of instances, Curry took issues into his personal fingers and delivered like a celebrity. However this evening, LeBron James had the ball final.

So Curry left the courtroom overcome with frustration. Along with his jersey in his personal fingers.

“Really makes it worse,” Curry mentioned. “Makes, misses or no matter, there’s an vitality about what we’re making an attempt to do. So the excellent news is that if we will preserve doing that, you wish to suppose that you may construct momentum, and that’s that’s what our hope is. However it’s only a powerful … back-to-back video games at residence that you simply play properly sufficient to win and simply don’t get it carried out.”