LeBron James outlasts Steph Curry and Golden State Warriors as LA Lakers claim NBA classic win in double overtime

LeBron James and Steph Curry served up a classic as the former led the LA Lakers to a double overtime 145-144 win over the Golden State Warriors.

James defied his status as the oldest player in the league at 39, draining two free throws with just a second remaining on the clock. In total, he scored 36 points with a career-high 20 rebounds and 12 assists.

“It’s something I’ll be able to talk about with my grandkids, talk about me being able to compete with one of the greatest players to ever play the game,” said James.

“Steph came to me after the game and said ‘how does it keep getting better?'”

Curry scored 46 points in a losing effort having forced the game into overtime by weaving through the paint for a lay-up with just five seconds remaining.

“Every year we get to do this, the back-and-forth battles, all the Finals runs, to the playoffs last year, after the horn sounded tonight there was a little laugh of ‘we can’t like imagine a scenario where a game like tonight happens’, his year, what, 21, and my year 15,” Curry said.

“You look forward to the battles, but you also appreciate the mutual respect of what it takes to keep doing what you’re doing at this level because only a few people know how hard it is. I’m happy to be in that group.”

Klay Thompson’s 25-foot three-pointer then set up a second period of overtime as part of his 24 points for the Warriors.

A stunning three-pointer from Curry then put the visitors in the lead with seconds remaining. But James had the final say from the free throw line.

“Just trying to control myself first and foremost as a basketball fan,” said Lakers coach Darvin Ham. “This was a hell of a basketball game, a high-level basketball game. Two legends going back and forth, two great organisations. It was fun to be a part of.”

However, not everyone was happy as Warriors coach Steve Kerr was bemused by the officiating as the Lakers had 43 free throws to the Warriors’ 16.

“I might comment on the free throws that they shot, but my mom is here right now and I want to be on my best behaviour so I’m not going to comment on their 43 free throws to our 16,” said Kerr. “I’m not going to comment on Steph shooting three free throws in 43 minutes.”

Victory edged the Lakers over 500 at 24-23 for the season, while the Warriors slip to 19-24.

Eastern Conference leaders the Boston Celtics were humbled on their home court by Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers 115-96.

Leonard scored 26 points despite sitting for the entirety of the fourth quarter and Paul George added 17 points for the Clippers, who went on a 21-0 run in the third quarter to win a fifth straight game and avenge a 37-point home loss to Boston in December.

The Celtics have now lost two in a row at the Boston Garden after starting the season on a 20-game winning run.

Defending champions the Denver Nuggets held off the Philadelphia 76ers, who were without star centre Joel Embiid, winning 111-105.

Embiid, the league’s reigning MVP, sat out with left knee soreness after his pre-game workout.

Nikola Jokic put up 26 points and 16 rebounds while Jamal Murray (23 points) and Michael Porter Jr scored (20 points) chipped in for Denver.

Rivers is set to replace the fired Adrian Griffin with the Bucks second in the East, three games behind Boston at 32-14.

Fresh from his franchise-record 73 points in Friday’s win over Atlanta, Luka Doncic ended up on the losing side as the Dallas Mavericks lost 120-115 to the Sacramento Kings.

Doncic landed 28 points and 17 assists but was outdone by De’Aaron Fox’s 34 points for the Kings.

In the battle of two Frenchmen, rookie Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs upset Rudy Gobert’s Minnesota Timberwolves 113-112.

No. 1 draft pick Wembanyama netted 23 points, 10 rebounds and six assists as the Spurs, bottom of the West, beat the second-placed team in their conference.