LeBron James won a legendary duel with the Los Angeles Lakers against Stephen Curry and his Golden State Warriors in one of the NBA games of the year

With a stratospheric triple double and two decisive free throws, Lebron James on Saturday night he won the crown as the best player in the history of NBA with a memorable performance to command the very close and epic victory of Los Angeles Lakers before Warriors of the Golden State of a no less brilliant one Stephen Curry. The match ended with just one point difference (145-144) in a tachycardic double overtime that left everyone with their hair standing on end. Chase Centerr of San Francisco.

James, the oldest player in the US professional basketball league at 39, finished with an astonishing record of 36 points, 20 rebounds (career high) and 12 assists prevail in a frenetic one-on-one with Curry, who recovered 46 points with 9 triples and 7 assists.

The 18,000 fans vibrated with one of the best games of this NBA season, which recalled the battles that Lebron Jamesthen driving the Cleveland Cavaliersplayed in the last decade against the Warriors of Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green in four consecutive finals.

After countless twists and turns in the script, King James He condemned the game in favor of the Lakers by receiving a personal foul with just one second left and coldly converting both free throws.

“I don’t think he (the older player) is. I don’t think so.”“, the forward said with a smile after spending 48 minutes on the hardwood. “I’m going to compete and I feel young”said James, who continues to impress in his 21st season in the NBA.

The Lakers, who overcame a 15-point deficit, 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 move in which he dribbled past the pin 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 equalized 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 earned a point in the final five seconds after a Curry 3-pointer, but James made a powerful run and was fouled by Green, allowing him to close out the victory from the free throw line.

“It’s something you’ll really sink in when you finish playing and watch it with your grandchildren. “I can say I played against one of the best to ever play the sport,” James said of Curry, with whom he hugged after the fight.

Saturday’s other impacts in the NBA

In another of Saturday’s 10 games, the Denver Nuggets They beat it 111-105 Philadelphia 76ers in a match that saw the Cameroonian abandon at the last minute Joel Embiid due to discomfort in his left knee.

The absence of the Sixers star, who scored 70 points on Monday against the Spurs, ruined the long-awaited duel between the latest MVP winners that he would have had with Jokic

The Cameroonian has not played a match in Denver since 2019, leading the crowd to mock his absence by chanting “Where’s Embiid?”. Jokic was the star of the evening with 26 points, 16 rebounds and 7 assists.

Saturday’s surprise was achieved by the San Antonio Spurs, last in the Western Conference, who beat the Minnesota Timberwolves, second, 113-112.

French rookie Victor Wembanyama once again showed his amazing potential with 23 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks.

Wembanyama, the 6-foot-1 center, wasn’t intimidated by Minnesota’s two big men, his compatriot Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns, who both had 19 points.

Another game with an unexpected outcome was the 115-96 victory of the Los Angeles Clippers on the field of the Boston Celtics, leaders of the East.

In New York, the Knicks beat the Miami Heat 125-109 in a victory that could cost them dearly due to the shoulder injury suffered by their star Julius Randle. Point guard Jalen Brunson led New York’s offense with 32 points and Jimmy Butler led the Heat with 28 more.

For their part, the Dallas Mavericks lost 120-115 to the Sacramento Kings. Luka Doncic, who the day before had scored 73 points (fourth highest score in history), didn’t shoot as well 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
• New York 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