Daily Tribune
Austin Reaves hits the game-winning layup that lifted the Los Angeles Lakers to a 115-113 victory over the Golden State Warriors in the NBA’s Christmas Day spectacle.
NOAH GRAHAM/Agence France-Presse
LOS ANGELES (AFP) — LeBron James and Steph Curry served up a Christmas Day feast as their rivalry delivered another classic with the Los Angeles Lakers edging the Golden State Warriors, 115-113, on Wednesday.
Curry made a stunning 31-foot three-point throw with 7.1 seconds left on the clock to tie the game, only for Austin Reaves to win it for the Lakers with a driving layup with 1.1 seconds left.
The 36-year-old Curry and James, three years his senior, had traded three-pointers down the stretch as fans were treated to a ding-dong finale from the two future Hall of Famers.
James put up 31 points and ten assists without the support of teammate Anthony Davis, who left the game in the first quarter after turning his ankle.
Game-winner Reaves enjoyed a triple double with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
Curry’s 38 points included 8-15 three-point shooting while Anthony Wiggins made 21 points and 12 rebounds, but Golden State fell to an 11th loss in 14 games.
“Today is the day of giving, and that’s what me and Steph continue to do and try to do for our fans, for our beautiful game,” James said.
“We don’t know how many times we’re going to be able to have this matchup. We try to give the game what it deserves, because it’s given us so much, we try to give it right back.”
James was playing in a record 19th Christmas Day game and took the occasion to take a gentle swipe at the National Football League’s (NFL) encroachment on the day.
“I love the NFL but Christmas is our day,” he said.
Mikal Bridges and the New York Knicks edged Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, 117-114, in a thriller at Madison Square Garden.
French star Wembanyama put up 42 points with 18 rebounds and four blocks for the Spurs but Bridges took the glory with a brilliant 15-point fourth-quarter display that left him with a season-high 41 points and the win.
The 20-year-old, who stands 7-foot-3, was 16-31 on shooting and made six of 16 three-point throws and while Bridges took the applause from the home crowd, he was quick to praise the Frenchman.
