Lakers' LeBron James, Warriors' Stephen Curry add to classic rivalry in 2-OT duel - ESPN

SAN FRANCISCO — It took a statistical achievement that LeBron James had never reached before in 1,463 career regular-season games, an extra 10 minutes of game time and two swished free throws with 1.2 seconds remaining before the Los Angeles Lakers star could claim victory over his longtime nemesis, Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.

The Lakers won 145-144 in double overtime on Saturday with James putting up 36 points, a career-best 20 rebounds and 12 assists, edging Curry's game-high 46 points — including 15 in the OT periods — in an instant classic between the two surefire Hall of Famers.

«It's something I'll be able to talk about with my grandkids,» James said of his matchup with Curry. «When you talk about me being able to compete versus one of the greatest players to ever play the game.»

The game was scheduled as part of the NBA's Rivals Week, and it did not disappoint, with the 39-year-old James and the 35-year-old Curry looking every bit as masterful as they did when their teams met in the NBA Finals four consecutive times.

«It's been a treat to go against one of the greatest to ever play this game,» James said. «For us to continue to push each other at the state of our careers, you don't take it for granted because you don't know how many times you're actually going to get the moment to actually be on the same floor with such a talent.»

While James' Lakers won the championship in 2020 for his fourth ring and Curry's Warriors won it all two years later for his fourth title, both players' teams have fallen on challenging times.

The Lakers' win lifted them to 24-23, ninth in the Western Conference. The loss dropped the Warriors to 19-24, No. 12 in the West.

For a night, however, the team records didn't