LeBron Stars in Record 19th Christmas Game, Lakers Top Warriors 115-113

 SAN FRANCISCO — Austin Reaves delivered the game-winning layup with one second left, capping a dramatic finish after Stephen Curry tied the game with a 31-foot 3-pointer with seven seconds remaining. LeBron James led the way with 31 points and 10 assists in his NBA-record 19th Christmas Day appearance, as the Los Angeles Lakers edged the Golden State Warriors 115-113 on Wednesday night.

Curry dazzled with 38 points, sinking eight 3-pointers, including a clutch baseline shot under pressure with 12 seconds left and another deep three with 2:49 remaining. James responded with a critical 3-pointer of his own, keeping the Lakers in control.

 

Reaves recorded his first career triple-double, finishing with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, stepping up for the Lakers after Anthony Davis exited in the first quarter with a sprained left ankle.

Takeaways

Lakers:

• D'Angelo Russell missed the game due to a sprained left thumb.
• Jaxson Hayes, sidelined since mid-November with a sprained right ankle, participated in 3-on-3 drills as he works toward a return.

Warriors:

• Golden State suffered its 11th loss in 14 games.
• Draymond Green received his eighth technical foul late in the second quarter, moving closer to the 16-tech threshold that triggers a one-game suspension.                                                                                                                                           

Key Moment

In a thrilling sequence, Curry drained a 3-pointer at the 10:59 mark of the second quarter with James closing in. Just 17 seconds later, James answered with a deep shot of his own, electrifying the crowd. The two superstars rekindled their Christmas rivalry, having previously faced off on the holiday in 2015, 2016, and 2018.

Key Stat

Curry joined elite company as the seventh player in NBA history to make at least 11 Christmas Day starts, alongside LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Dwyane Wade, Russell Westbrook, and Kevin Durant. Meanwhile, James secured his 11th Christmas Day win, surpassing Wade for the most in NBA history.

Up Next

The Warriors head to Los Angeles to face the Clippers on Friday night, while the Lakers return home to host the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.