Christmas evening was a heavyweight struggle between Stephen Curry and LeBron James. Within the remaining seconds, the Lakers’ Austin Reaves was the hero.
After the Golden State Warriors made up a nine-point deficit within the remaining minutes, largely because of Curry scoring eight factors within the remaining 25 seconds, Reaves blew previous Andrew Wiggins for the game-winning layup in a 115-113 Lakers win.
It was a crushing loss for Curry and the Warriors, who misplaced for the fifth time in six video games. Down the stretch, the Lakers could not cease Curry, who first lower the lead right down to a single level on a play the place he inbounded the ball, obtained it again and sank a three-pointer, regardless of the protection of James.
After Reaves made a pair of free throws — the Lakers had been an ideal 18-for-18 from the road — Curry shook off the Lakers protection by launching, and hitting, from 30 ft.
It was Curry’s thirty eighth level of the sport and his eighth three-pointer, tying a Christmas file. But it surely wasn’t fairly sufficient towards James, who prolonged his Christmas day file for factors (507) and wins (11), whereas passing out 10 assists.
However whereas James is probably the most achieved Christmas participant of all time in his 19 video games, Reaves was the hero Wednesday. He logged 26 factors, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. When the sport was on the road, Draymond Inexperienced was there to battle James, whereas Reaves did not hesitate to take management and win the sport.
Curry vs. James is a traditional battle any time, however particularly on Christmas Day. Wednesday, Curry did his finest to deliver dwelling the vacation win for his dwelling crowd, nevertheless it was Reaves who closed out Christmas.
