SAN FRANCISCO — Frustration boiled over in Stephen Curry. Until he boiled to the surface. Until he let out a roar. Until, at age 30, he tore his shirt off the collar.
He had scored 46 points on 35 shots, making the benefit of just three free throws in his 43 minutes. He hit the tying layup at the end of regulation. In the final minute of the first overtime, he forced a turnover and then hit a huge corner 3, setting up Klay Thompson’s game-tying 3 that kept the Warriors alive. Then, in the second overtime, Curry’s final points of the night came from 26 feet off the clock with 4.7 seconds remaining, bringing the Warriors within a point.
He left his follow-through in the air as he backed up. Too much spent on a more elaborate celebration. The NBA’s leader in clutch points scored 19 more in double overtime, including 10 in the second overtime. Most nights that would be enough.
MOM, HERE’S THAT MAN ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/KsIABjnkfV
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) January 28, 2024
But on the other team was Curry’s magnificence partner. His enemy is more validating and valiant than him. Lebron James. They have exchanged heartbreaks and hugs over the years. James, whose Lakers eliminated Curry’s Warriors from the playoffs last year, had more heartbreak to deliver to Curry.
The 39-year-old James beat a rookie nearly half his age off the dribble, outpaced another young, energetic athlete and powered up for a strong attack at the rim. He drew the foul and, punctuating his spectacular night, hit a pair of free throws to give the Lakers the win, 145-144. James’ 36 points, 20 rebounds and 12 assists in nearly 48 minutes indicted his birth certificate for fraud.
They no longer win as usual, both need everything to stay in the race, both hope to find decisive help to return to the realm of contenders. But Saturday proved that Curry and LeBron are still fascinating. Next February it will be a decade since LeBron’s 3 against the Warriors at the Oracle in Oakland debuted with “The Silencer” celebration and turned this duo into must-see theater. After all these years, when they share the court, it’s still the best theater in the NBA.
“It’s something that you’ll really absorb when you’re done playing,” LeBron James said during his on-court interview, “and you can watch with your grandkids and say I played against one of the best players to ever play this game. Steph , after the game, he came to me and said, ‘How do we keep getting better? “How can we keep getting better?” “I think it’s just a real testament to the fact that we put our work into the game, we’re true to the game , and the game continues to give us something back.”
James and D’Angelo Russell made sure another close game passed through the hands of the Warriors. But this time it wasn’t so much about what the Warriors didn’t do. This loss wasn’t due to a head-scratching turnover, as the heartbreaking loss to Sacramento was two nights earlier. Or a questionable decision by the coach. Or because they collapsed under an assault. Or even due to bad shots.
However, one of their best efforts only counts as a near-victory. At ease. The Warriors are now 15-13 in clutch games with Curry (0-4 without him). They are five games under .500 and still out of postseason contention. They can play as well as anyone but not win as frequently as the best teams.
“Throughout our season,” Curry said, “we had some tough moments, some self-inflicted wounds. Some games that obviously you should have won and there’s disappointment coming off the pitch. …We fought the whole way. We stayed there even when things didn’t go our way, we gave ourselves an opportunity. It comes down to the last possession three or four times in regulation, both overtime. It just shows that we really want it. “We’re playing with a little bit of desperation trying to change the course of our season and we just don’t have anything to show for it right now.”
LeBron James and Stephen Curry scored 82 points on 60 shots and plenty of highlights in Saturday’s double-overtime thriller in San Francisco. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
But their peak is still high enough to get intoxicated. Saturday was a gallery of their best.
Curry, of course. Draymond Green was every bit the difference-maker on both ends, and the willpower that often burns him tonight kept the Warriors on fire. Thompson was good in the second half after a brutal first half. His defense on LeBron, his shots, his competitive spirit. Jonathan Kuminga was ready and impactful. His 22 points and nine rebounds in 43 minutes showed that he can play at this level. He should also have a bigger role in the offense.
Coach Steve Kerr is confident the run is coming. His Warriors are ready for the turning point. They have one game left at home, against Philadelphia, before a road trip that begins with three losing teams.
It’s only possible if the Warriors’ determination is stronger than the fabric of their jersey.
“Our guys were great, they were great,” Kerr said. “The way they fought and competed and stayed in the game. He’s done so many comedies. We felt like we deserved to win that game because of the way the guys fought. So many plays that could have gone either way. It seemed like a game we deserved to win. As long as we keep playing like we played tonight, I think we’ll be able to turn things around and have a great season. I really believe that.”
The Lakers are in the same situation, albeit a little closer to where they want to be than the Warriors thanks to a more stable foundation with James and an elite version of Anthony Davis. Even their best seems worthy. The Warriors seem to get it out of them.
But giving your best in moments, in matches, is not their problem. It’s sustainability. What’s missing is the consistency and versatility of their greatness. They can’t seem to do this every night. They can’t seem to evoke it in more ways than one.
The Lakers and the Warriors.
Saturday conspired to evoke the greatness of both teams. A prime time match. One of great importance for both mid-level teams. The Hall of Fame is featured all over the floor. The appreciation for the stage, the moment and still being on it.
They produced a thriller. They lived up to their names. Time and time again, Curry took matters into his own hands and performed like a superstar. But tonight, LeBron James had the ball last.
So Curry left the court overwhelmed with frustration. With the shirt in his hands.
“It actually makes it worse,” Curry said. “Success, mistakes or whatever, there’s an energy to what we’re trying to do. So the good news is if we can continue to do that, you’d like to think we can build momentum, and that’s our hope. But it’s just tough… back-to-back home games where you play well enough to win and you just can’t get it done.
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(Top photo of LeBron James and Stephen Curry after Saturday’s game: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
