Lakers vs. Warriors highlights: Key moments from the Lakers’ exciting Christmas victory
LeBron James truly shines on Christmas.
The Los Angeles Lakers narrowly triumphed over the Golden State Warriors, winning 115-113 in their Christmas Day showdown at Chase Center.
James scored 31 points, recorded 10 assists, grabbed four rebounds, and made two steals, bringing his total of points scored on Christmas Day to 507, which is an NBA record. He also holds the record for the most appearances on Christmas Day (19) and most wins (11).
“I have a great appreciation for the NFL, but Christmas belongs to us,” James remarked after the game.
This game was the fourth Christmas Day meeting between James and Curry, with James now leading the series 3-1 (his wins coming in 2016, 2018, and 2024; Curry’s win was in 2015).
Curry scored 38 points, along with six assists and one rebound. Andrew Wiggins contributed 21 points and 12 rebounds.
The Lakers managed to secure the win despite Anthony Davis providing no points and playing just 7 minutes due to an ankle injury. Austin Reaves stepped up and delivered a remarkable performance, racking up 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, including the decisive basket with just a second left on the clock.
Lakers vs. Warriors highlights
Final Score: Lakers 115, Warriors 113
Austin Reaves clinches the win with a last-second layup
Reaves finished off his triple-double in dramatic fashion. With just 6.1 seconds left, Max Christie passed the ball to Reaves, who drove toward the basket for a layup that put the Lakers ahead 115-113 with only 1 second remaining. Stephen Curry attempted a long-range shot, but it didn’t hit the mark. The Lakers celebrated their 115-113 victory.
Steph Curry ties it up with stunning 3-pointers
Steph Curry was unstoppable, sinking two 3-pointers in just 13 seconds to even the score at 113-113 with 6.3 seconds remaining.
Lakers build a lead in the closing minutes
With 4:58 left in the game, the Warriors closed the gap to three points, but Austin Reaves responded with a 27-foot 3-pointer to stretch the lead back to six at 100-94. On the very next play, Reaves hit a jumper, pushing the Lakers’ advantage to eight points with 3:48 remaining.
Anthony Davis exits due to injury
Anthony Davis was declared out for the remainder of the game after suffering an apparent ankle injury. He left the game with 4:48 left in the first quarter after rolling his ankle while playing under the basket. Davis did not score (0-for-3 FG) before departing for the locker room.
Lakers lead by 9 in the third quarter
With 3:50 left in the third quarter, the Lakers had their largest lead of the game, pulling ahead 78-69 with a 3-pointer from Rui Hachimura, who reached 12 points for the game.
Halftime Score: Lakers 55, Warriors 52
Heading into halftime, the Lakers held a slim lead of 55-52 over the Warriors.
Los Angeles managed to shoot 41.7% from the field and achieved 6-for-19 from 3-point range. LeBron James led with 19 points and three rebounds, while Austin Reaves added 10 points and Dalton Knecht contributed 11 points from the bench.
The Warriors recorded a shooting percentage of 45.7% and went 9-for-25 from beyond the arc. Stephen Curry was the top scorer for Golden State with 16 points and four assists, and Andrew Wiggins had 14 points.
Interestingly, the Warriors managed to make only one free throw in the entire first half, whereas the Lakers were flawless at the line, going 9-for-9.
Lakers surge with a 16-2 run
Los Angeles regained control in the second quarter with a 16-2 scoring run, taking a 39-30 lead with 6:53 remaining in the first half. LeBron James reached 13 points, while Dalton Knecht contributed 11 points off the bench.
The Lakers shot 42.9% from the field and were 5-for-13 from three-point range, while the Warriors managed 37.5% shooting overall and 6-for-21 from distance.
First quarter ends in a tie: Lakers 23, Warriors 23
The first quarter concluded with both teams locked in a tie.
The Warriors had a lead of as much as eight points before the Lakers rallied back to even the score before heading into the second period.
At the end of the first quarter, Andrew Wiggins had amassed 10 points for the Warriors, while Dennis Schroder contributed six points. LeBron James led the Lakers with eight points, while Dalton Knecht added five points off the bench. Anthony Davis had yet to score (0-for-3) prior to his exit.
Anthony Davis’s injury worries
Lakers star Anthony Davis appeared to have injured his ankle after a fall under the basket early in the first quarter. He was visibly in pain, clutching his left ankle before attempting to walk off the discomfort. Although he managed to leave the court under his own power, he eventually returned to the locker room.
When is the Lakers-Warriors matchup?
- The game will begin on Wednesday,
Date: December 25 at around 8 p.m. ET.Where will the Lakers-Warriors game take place?
- The Warriors will face off against the Lakers at Chase Center located in San Francisco.
How to view the Lakers-Warriors game on TV
- You can catch the game live on ABC/ESPN.
How to stream the Lakers-Warriors game
- The game is available for streaming on ESPN+ and Fubo, which comes with a free trial option.
Today’s NBA games
- New York Knicks 117, San Antonio Spurs 114
- Minnesota Timberwolves 105, Dallas Mavericks 99
- Philadelphia 76ers 118, Boston Celtics 114
- Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors at 8 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN
- Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns at 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN/ABC
Lakers’ starting lineup
- Rui Hachimura
- LeBron James
- Anthony Davis
- Max Christie
- Austin Reaves
Warriors’ starting lineup
- Stephen Curry
- Dennis Schroder
- Andrew Wiggins
- Draymond Green
- Trayce Jackson-Davis
Lakers vs. Warriors betting odds
The Golden State Warriors are predicted to win against the Los Angeles Lakers in their Christmas Day game, based on the odds from BetMGM.
- Point Spread: Warriors (-4.5)
- Moneyline: Warriors (-190); Lakers (+155)
- Total Points: 222.5
Current NBA Western Conference standings
- Oklahoma City Thunder 23-5
- Houston Rockets 20-9
- Memphis Grizzlies 20-10
- Dallas Mavericks 19-11
- Denver Nuggets 16-11
- Los Angeles Clippers 17-13
- Los Angeles Lakers 16-13
- Golden State Warriors 15-13
- Minnesota Timberwolves 15-14
- San Antonio Spurs 15-15
- Phoenix Suns 14-14
- Sacramento Kings 13-17
- Portland Trail Blazers 9-20
- Utah Jazz 7-21
- New Orleans Pelicans 5-25
Historical Lakers vs. Warriors matchup
The Lakers and Warriors have clashed 438 times in the regular season, with the Lakers holding a 262-176 advantage. This is their first encounter this season. The last match was on April 9 of the previous season, where the Warriors triumphed 134-120. Steph Curry and Klay Thompson scored a total of 50 points, while LeBron James contributed 33 points, 11 assists, and 7 rebounds. Last season, the Warriors had a 3-1 record against the Lakers.
Most points scored on Christmas in NBA history
LeBron James has set the record for the most points scored on Christmas Day with a total of 476 points. Here are the highest single-game scores recorded on Christmas:
- Bernard King, Knicks – 60 points in 1984
- Wilt Chamberlain, Warriors – 59 points in 1961
- Luka Doncic, Mavericks – 50 points in 2023
- Rick Barry, Warriors – 50 points in 1966
- Jerry West, Lakers – 47 points in 1963
- Tracy McGrady, Magic – 46 points in 2002
- Dominique Wilkins, Hawks – 45 points in 1987
- Tom Heinsohn, Celtics – 45 points in 1961
- Wilt Chamberlain, Warriors – 45 points in 1959
- Kevin Durant, Thunder – 44 points in 2010
- Jerry West, Lakers – 44 points in 1965
Teams with the most Christmas Day games
In the NBA, the New York Knicks have participated in 55 Christmas Day games, more than any other team.
Teams with the most Christmas Day victories
The New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers each have 24 Christmas Day wins, which ties them for the league record. The Philadelphia 76ers are in third place with 19 wins. All three teams are set to play on Christmas this year.
Player with the most Christmas Day wins
LeBron James and his former Miami Heat teammate Dwyane Wade each have the most Christmas Day wins, with 10. James has the opportunity to surpass Wade if the Lakers win against the Golden State Warriors this Wednesday.
Notable NBA players for Christmas games
Christmas is a moment for NBA stars to shine.
From legends like Dolph Schayes, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant to current stars like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry, the biggest names in the sport have graced the holiday’s game line-up over the years.
This December 25 is no different.
Jeff Zillgitt highlights the top NBA players to keep an eye on during the 2024 Christmas Day matchups.
Potential NBA MVP contenders
Who will step up this year as a significant contender for the NBA MVP title? Jeff Zillgitt analyzes the leading candidates.
