LeBron, Curry trade blows in ‘f***ing insane’ double OT epic; ‘coward’ sparks fan fury: NBA Wrap

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors 145-144 in a NBA double time beyond regulation traditional on Sunday (AEDT).

James, defied his standing because the oldest participant within the league at 39, scoring 36 factors with 20 rebounds and 12 assists in his 48 minutes on courtroom.

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Curry, the 35-year-old two-time MVP, completed on the dropping facet regardless of an excellent efficiency scoring 46 factors with seven assists.

Four-time MVP James settled the sport by sinking his two free throws with only a second remaining on the clock.

The Warriors grabbed the one level lead because of an excellent 28-foot, three-point jumper from Curry with 5.2 seconds left.

Klay Thompson took the sport into the second interval of time beyond regulation after his 25-foot three pointer with seven seconds remaining.

All that got here after Curry levelled the enthralling sport with 5.2 seconds left in regulation.

James mentioned the duel with Curry was one he would look again on when his Hall of Fame profession is lastly over.

“It’s something that you will truly take all in when you are done playing and are able to watch with your grandkids and say that I played against one of the best ever to play this game,” he mentioned.

“Steph came to me after the game and said ‘how does it keep getting better?’”

The contest was the primary time since 1969 the 2 sides had gone to double time beyond regulation.

Joel Embiid as soon as once more denied NBA followers a marquee matchup.

The reigning NBA MVP missed the Philadelphia 76ers’ 111-105 loss to Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.

This was the fourth straight yr Embiid has missed the Sixers’ sport in Denver.

Philadelphia scratched Embiid shortly earlier than tipoff with what was known as discomfort in his left knee throughout warmups.

Embiid has no longer appeared in a sport in Denver since Nov. 8, 2019.

That led Nuggets followers to chant “Where’s Embiid at?” as Denver, the defending NBA champions, opened the sport with a 13-4 run.

Last season, Nuggets followers mocked Embiid with “Missing Person” indicators within the stands at Ball Arena after he sat out the Sixers’ sport in Denver with a sore calf, resulting in accusations he was ducking Jokic.

At least one fan was seen doing the identical on Sunday.

His final 4 matchups with Jokic have been in Philadelphia, together with a 126-121 Sixers win on Jan. 16 during which Embiid had 41 factors and 10 assists to Jokic’s 25 factors and 19 rebounds in a matchup of the final two NBA MVPs.

This time round Jokic as soon as once more led the way in which for Denver with 26 factors, 16 rebounds and 7 assists within the nervy win.

Paul Reed, in the meantime, stepped up in Embiid’s absence because the Sixers’ beginning massive man scored a game-high 30 factors to go along with 13 boards. Kelly Oubre Jr., in the meantime, had 25 factors.

Embiid has missed 11 video games this season and might solely miss six extra the remainder of the way in which to stay eligible for repeating as MVP.

The final particular person to win back-to-back MVPs was Jokic, whose quest for a three-peat was denied final yr by Embiid.

Last season, the Sixers’ All-Star paced the NBA with 33.1 factors per sport.

This yr, Embiid has taken his sport to a different stage, main the NBA in scoring with 36.0 factors per sport.

That consists of his historic 70-point sport Tuesday in opposition to the Spurs.

The Sixers will certainly miss Embiid, as they’re additionally enjoying with out guard Tyrese Maxey (sprained left ankle), ahead Tobias Harris (sickness) and heart Mo Bamba (infected proper knee).

— with New York Post

‘CAN’T BE HAPPENING’: STEPHEN A. LOSES IT AT KNICKS INJURY

Julius Randle is “a warrior,” Tom Thibodeau mentioned, who ceaselessly performs by means of ache that few outsiders even know is there.

So when the Knicks’ head coach noticed his star ahead not try to remain within the closing minutes of Saturday’s win over the Heat after hurting his shoulder on a tough fall, he knew one thing was improper.

“Very,” Thibodeau mentioned about his concern stage after the Knicks’ 125-109 victory on the Garden.

Randle barrelled to the ring at 4:27 of the fourth in a sport the Knicks have been main comfortably.

He crashed into Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr., who was trying to attract a cost, and clutched instantly at his shoulder upon hitting the ground.

Randle would have wanted to try the free throws if he wished to stay eligible to sub again into the sport.

Instead, he grabbed on the shoulder and slumped off the courtroom instantly so medical professionals may get a glance.

Jericho Sims hit 1 of two as his alternative.

Thibodeau didn’t have a right away replace afterward on Randle’s situation, although ESPN reported he suffered a dislocated shoulder.

Speaking on ESPN, long-suffering Knicks fan Stephen A. Smith was in disbelief that Randle had been nonetheless within the sport with a 17-point lead.

“If he’s not OK, you’re going to see an entirely different Stephen A. on the air,” he mentioned.

“Somebody that’s going to be incredibly depressed and mortified at the idea of the New York Knicks continuing this season without him. I don’t even want to think about it. Didn’t we just say before he got injured that the New York Knicks have looked better than they have in years? This just can’t be happening.”

If the bulldozing ahead has to overlook time, OG Anunoby can be the main candidate to slip into his spot.

“He’s a guy that plays through things and that’s what you love about him,” Thibodeau mentioned of Randle, who completed with 19 factors on 6-of-14 capturing.

“He’s a warrior. Anytime someone walks back [to the locker room], you know it’s something.”

— with New York Post

FULL NBA SCORES

Pistons 104-118 Wizards