LeBron James delivered a dominant performance with 42 points, 17 rebounds, and eight assists as the Los Angeles Lakers (30-19) held off the Golden State Warriors (25-26) in a 120-112 victory on Thursday night.
Austin Reaves contributed 23 points, and Gabe Vincent sank five three-pointers to help Los Angeles secure its fourth straight win and 10th in the last 12 games. The Lakers nearly squandered a 26-point lead but held on to defeat the Warriors for the second consecutive time with Luka Doncic watching from the bench.
Stephen Curry led Golden State with 37 points, but it wasn’t enough to outduel James in their latest head-to-head matchup. Curry shot 13-of-35 from the field and went 6-of-20 from three, attempting the fifth-most threes in his career.
James set the tone early, scoring 18 points in the second quarter to push the Lakers ahead before Golden State mounted a 32-12 run before halftime. Curry added 22 second-half points, including a late push that trimmed the Lakers’ lead to 109-104 with 3:40 remaining.
James responded by drilling his sixth three-pointer of the night with 1:08 left, effectively sealing the win for Los Angeles. The 40-year-old also became the oldest player in NBA history to record a 30-point, 15-rebound game, surpassing his own previous mark.
Reaves went 15-of-16 from the free-throw line and led the Lakers in attempts. Jaxson Hayes and Rui Hachimura each added 11 points, while Vincent provided a crucial scoring boost off the bench. Jarred Vanderbilt grabbed 14 rebounds in 20 minutes.
Golden State struggled with efficiency, shooting 40.6% from the field and 30.2% from three. Buddy Hield scored 14 points, while Draymond Green had 13 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Moses Moody contributed 14 points off the bench, and Pat Spencer added 13 in limited minutes.
The game took place shortly after the NBA approved the trade sending Jimmy Butler from Miami to Golden State in a package centered around Andrew Wiggins. Butler arrived in Los Angeles before tipoff but did not play. His debut is expected on Saturday.
Doncic, sidelined with a calf injury, received a massive ovation when introduced before the game. The All-Star guard is expected to make his Lakers debut Monday. Meanwhile, newly acquired center Mark Williams has yet to join the team.
Golden State has now dropped its first two games of a seven-game road trip, but the team’s dynamic is set to shift once Butler takes the floor. The Lakers have won 11 of their last 14 games and continue to climb in the Western Conference standings.
