Austin Reaves delivered a dramatic game-winning layup with one second remaining to lift the Los Angeles Lakers to a thrilling 115-113 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night. The clutch play came moments after Stephen Curry nailed a 31-foot 3-pointer to tie the game with seven seconds left.Â
LeBron James led the Lakers with 31 points and 10 assists in his NBA-record 19th Christmas Day game, while Reaves recorded an impressive triple-double with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Despite Curry’s brilliance, scoring 38 points with eight 3-pointers, the Warriors fell short, losing for the 11th time in their last 14 games. Curry’s heroics included a baseline 3-pointer with 12 seconds left and another under pressure late in the fourth quarter.Â
However, James consistently answered on the other end, including a pivotal 3-pointer late in the game. The Lakers overcame adversity after losing Anthony Davis to a sprained left ankle in the first quarter. Missing D’Angelo Russell due to a sprained thumb, Los Angeles leaned on James and Reaves to secure the victory.
For the Warriors, Curry reached another milestone, becoming just the seventh player in NBA history to make at least 11 starts on Christmas Day. James, who passed former teammate Dwyane Wade for the most career wins on Christmas Day with 11, continued his long-standing holiday rivalry with Curry.Â
The two superstars previously clashed on Christmas in 2015, 2016, and 2018 during their NBA Finals battles. Ultimately, the Lakers’ resilience and Reaves’ late-game heroics secured an iconic Christmas victory in San Francisco, and let’s grade the players in Purple and Gold.Â
LeBron James: A+
Stats: 31 PTS, 4 REB, 10 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 3 PF, 12-22 FG, 2-4 3PT, 5-5 FT, +4, 37 MIN
LeBron delivered yet another masterclass, scoring a team-high 31 points and adding 10 assists in his 19th Christmas Day game. His poise in the clutch, including a crucial late 3-pointer, solidified his status as the Lakers’ anchor. He also set a new record for most career Christmas Day wins, showcasing his longevity and dominance in a very entertaining matchup.
Austin Reaves: A+
Stats:Â 26 PTS, 10 REB, 10 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 0 PF, 8-20 FG, 4-10 3PT, 6-6 FT, -4, 37 MIN
Reaves was instrumental in the Lakers’ victory, registering a triple-double with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. His game-winning layup with one second remaining capped off a stellar performance. Reaves’ ability to step up in critical moments proved invaluable, especially with Anthony Davis sidelined.
Rui Hachimura: B+
Stats: 18 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 4 PF, 6-12 FG, 5-7 3PT, 1-1 FT, -5, 39 MIN
Hachimura provided a reliable scoring punch off the bench with 18 points, shooting an efficient 5-7 from deep. He also chipped in defensively with a block, though his foul trouble and occasional lapses on the boards tempered his overall impact.
Max Christie: B+
Stats: 16 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 5-13 FG, 2-8 3PT, 4-4 FT, -8, 34 MIN
Christie was a steady contributor, scoring 16 points and knocking down all four of his free throws. While his 2-8 performance from beyond the arc left something to be desired, his hustle on both ends of the floor and ability to get to the line were commendable.
Dalton Knecht: B
Stats: 13 PTS, 7 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 5-9 FG, 1-5 3PT, 2-2 FT, +13, 25 MIN
Knecht made the most of his 25 minutes, scoring 13 points and pulling down seven rebounds. His +13 plus-minus reflected his positive impact, even if his 1-5 shooting from deep showed some room for improvement.
Gabe Vincent: C
Stats: 5 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 3 PF, 2-7 FG, 1-6 3PT, 0-0 FT, +3, 29 MIN
Vincent struggled offensively, shooting just 2-7 from the field and 1-6 from beyond the arc. While he contributed three rebounds and three assists, his inability to find a rhythm offensively limited his impact.
Cam Reddish: C
Stats: 4 PTS, 1 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 2-4 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-0 FT, +7, 23 MIN
Reddish had a quiet outing, scoring four points on 2-4 shooting. His two steals showcased his defensive activity, but he remained largely uninvolved offensively and on the boards.
Christian Koloko: N/A
Stats: 2 PTS, 6 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 1-1 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +7, 9 MIN
Koloko played just nine minutes but showed promise with six rebounds and a block. His limited time on the floor prevented him from making a larger impact.
Anthony Davis: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 2 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-3 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -7, 7 MIN
Davis exited early due to a sprained left ankle, playing only seven minutes and going scoreless on 0-3 shooting. His absence placed greater pressure on LeBron and Reaves to carry the load.
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