With a stratospheric triple double and two decisive free throws,
LeBron James claimed his crown as the best player in
NBA
history on Saturday night
with
a memorable performance
to command the very close and epic victory of the
Los Angeles Lakers
against the
Golden State Warriors
by a no less brilliant
Stephen Curry
.
The game was resolved by just one point difference (145-144) in a tachycardia double overtime that left everyone at the
Chase Center
in San Francisco with their hair standing on end.
James, the oldest player in the United States professional basketball league at 39 years old, finished with an astonishing score of
36 points, 20 rebounds (a career high) and 12 assists
to win a frenetic one-on-one with Curry , who reached
46 points with 9 triples and 7 assists
.
The 18,000 fans vibrated with one of the best games of this season in the NBA, which recalled the battles that
LeBron James
, then leading the
Cleveland Cavaliers
, had last decade against the Warriors of Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green in four finals consecutive.
After countless plot 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 that way
," said the forward with a smile after spending 48 minutes on the hardwood.
"I go out to compete and I feel young
," said James, who continues to amaze in his twenty-first season in the NBA.
Stephen Curry and LeBron James, hand in hand.
Photo: AFP
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 pivot 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.
"
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.
The other impacts of Saturday in the NBA
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.
Jokic took advantage of Embiid's absence and shined for the Nuggets.
Photo: Reuters
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 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.
Victor Wembanyama shined against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Photo: AFP
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.
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 led 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.
All the results of the day
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 113-112
Golden State Warriors - LA Lakers 144-145 (double overtime)
Dallas Mavericks - Sacramento Kings 115-120
Source: AFP