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

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

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

He left his follow-through in 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 in 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

But on the different staff was Curry’s associate in magnificence. His most validating and valiant foe. LeBron James. They’ve exchanged heartbreaks and hugs over 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 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 night time, swished a pair of free throws to offer 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 in 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 still charming. It can 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 still the NBA’s best 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 means 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 in opposition to an onslaught. Or even due to missed pictures.

Still, certainly one of their best 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 under .500 and still on the outdoors of the postseason discipline. They can play in addition to anybody however not win as continuously 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 pictures and loads of highlights in Saturday’s double-overtime thriller in San Francisco. (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)

But their peak is still excessive sufficient to get intoxicated. Saturday was a gallery of their best.

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 in 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 degree. He ought to actually have a bigger function in the offense.

Head coach Steve Kerr is sure a run is coming. His Warriors are prepared for a breakthrough. They’ve received another recreation on this homestand, in opposition to 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 state of affairs, although just a little nearer to the place they wish to be than the Warriors because of a extra secure basis with James and an elite model of Anthony Davis. Their best, too, appears to be like worthy. The Warriors appear to deliver that out of them.

But taking part in their best 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 main-time recreation. One of nice significance to each middling squads. The Hall of Fame presence throughout the flooring. The appreciation for the stage, the second, and to still be on it.

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

So Curry left the courtroom 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.”