Curry Shines with 37 Points as Warriors Edge Out Lakers in Thrilling Showdown
In an electrifying matchup that could hint at a future playoff clash, Stephen Curry dropped 37 points, while Brandin Podziemski contributed a career-high 28, leading the Golden State Warriors to a 123-116 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night. This win marks the Warriors' fourth consecutive triumph, showcasing their growing momentum as the season winds down.
Podziemski was on fire from beyond the arc, nailing eight 3-pointers, while Curry, despite being 4 of 11 from long range, continued to demonstrate his scoring prowess. This performance came on the heels of Curry's jaw-dropping 52-point game against Memphis, where he hit 12 three-pointers, proving he’s in top form.
On the Lakers' side, LeBron James led the charge with 33 points and nine assists, while Austin Reaves added 31 points, including nine 3-pointers of his own. Rui Hachimura chipped in with 24 points, and Luke Doncic, despite a quiet night with 19 points, struggled from deep, missing all six of his 3-point attempts.
As the game progressed, Doncic's basket brought the Lakers within striking distance at 105-99 in the final minutes. However, Curry and Podziemski responded with back-to-back 3-pointers, and although James and Reaves answered with their own shots from beyond the arc, the Lakers found themselves trailing by seven.
In a thrilling third quarter, James and Curry exchanged scoring runs, with the Lakers narrowing the gap to eight points after trailing by 16 earlier in the game. James scored 12 of the Lakers' 14 points early in the quarter, but Curry quickly countered with 13 consecutive points, including three free throws, propelling the Warriors to an 88-77 lead heading into the final quarter.
Jonathan Kuminga also made a significant impact off the bench for Golden State, contributing 18 points and grabbing nine rebounds. This victory was particularly sweet for the Warriors, as it marked their first win against the Lakers in four attempts this season, with their last victory in Los Angeles dating back a year.
The Warriors wrapped up a six-game road trip, finishing with a solid 4-2 record, as they continue to fight for a top-six seed to avoid the play-in tournament with just six games remaining in the regular season.
For the Lakers, James made history by surpassing 11,000 points as a Laker with a 3-pointer in the second quarter, becoming the 10th player in franchise history to achieve this milestone.
In the closing seconds, Reaves hit a 3-pointer to bring the Lakers within 121-116, but a foul by Doncic on Curry allowed him to seal the game with two successful free throws.
Interestingly, the Warriors managed to secure this win without the contributions of Jimmy Butler, who scored 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting, a notable drop from his average of 17.3 points per game, including a stellar 27-point performance against Memphis.
Both teams are set to face off again on Saturday, with the Warriors hosting the Denver Nuggets and the Lakers welcoming the New Orleans Pelicans, as they continue their push for playoff positioning.
