SAN FRANCISCO — In an exhilarating finish on Christmas Day, Austin Reaves secured the victory for the Los Angeles Lakers with a winning layup just one second before the final buzzer. This follow-up came after Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors had tied the game with a sensational 31-foot 3-pointer, leaving only seven seconds on the clock. LeBron James shone brightly in his record 19th Christmas Day game, contributing 31 points and 10 assists, helping the Lakers to a narrow 115-113 victory over the Warriors on Wednesday night.
Curry had an impressive performance, scoring a total of 38 points and delivering eight 3-pointers, including a crucial shot from the baseline under pressure with only 12 seconds remaining in the game. Earlier, he also sank another long-range shot with 2:49 left, but James responded quickly with a 3-pointer of his own.
Reaves completed an impressive triple-double, finishing with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. Unfortunately for the Lakers, they lost big man Anthony Davis to a sprained left ankle late in the first quarter, posing a challenge for the team in the second half.
In terms of player updates, the Lakers were without D’Angelo Russell, who missed the game due to a sprained left thumb. Meanwhile, Jaxson Hayes, who has been sidelined since mid-November due to a sprained right ankle, participated in some 3-on-3 practice against the coaching staff, indicating he is on the road to recovery.
For the Warriors, this loss marked their 11th defeat in 14 games. Notably, Draymond Green received his eighth technical foul in the late part of the second quarter, putting him halfway to the 16 technical fouls that would trigger an automatic one-game suspension.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred early in the second quarter when Curry executed a smooth 3-pointer over James at the 10:59 mark, only for James to quickly counter by hitting one from beyond the arc just 17 seconds later. The two stars have faced off on Christmas Day in the past, including matchups in 2015, 2016, and 2018 when the Warriors competed against James’ former team, the Cavaliers, in the NBA Finals.
In terms of milestones, Curry became the seventh player in NBA history to make at least 11 starts on December 25, joining the ranks of legends like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Dwyane Wade, Russell Westbrook, and Kevin Durant. Meanwhile, James notched his 11th victory on this holiday, surpassing former teammate Wade’s record for most wins on Christmas Day.
Looking ahead, the Warriors are set to visit the Clippers for their next game on Friday night, while the Lakers will return home to face Sacramento on Saturday.
