Lakers top Warriors in 2-point thriller

SAN FRANCISCO — Austin Reaves scored the game-winning layup with one second left after Stephen Curry tied it on a 31-foot 3-pointer with seven seconds left, LeBron James had 31 points and 10 assists in his NBA record 19th Christmas Day game and Los Angeles Lakers held off the Golden State Warriors, 115-113, on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila).

Curry made it 38 with eight 3s, hitting one under pressure from the baseline with 12 seconds left and another with 2:49 remaining only for James to answer from long range on the other end.

Reaves recorded a triple-double with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Lakers, who lost big man Anthony Davis to a sprained left ankle late in the first quarter.

STILL BALLIN’ Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives to the basket against Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (22) during the second half of an NBA basketball game on 25 December 2024, in San Francisco. AP PHOTO

Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell was out with a sprained left thumb. Golden State lost for the 11th time in 14 games.

Draymond Green was hit with his eighth technical late in the second quarter, putting him halfway to the 16 mark, which would result in an automatic one-game suspension.

Knicks 117, Spurs 114

In New York, Mikal Bridges scored a season-high 41 points, and the New York Knicks beat 42 points from Victor Wembanyama in a monster Christmas debut.

Wembanyama set the Spurs’ scoring record this holiday and added 18 rebounds, four assists and four blocked shots. The reigning Western Conference Player of the Week made six 3-pointers.

But Bridges shot 17 of 25 from the field, 6 of 9 from behind the arc, to ensure the Knicks had just enough offense to win their fifth straight game and improve to 20-10.

Karl-Anthony Towns added 21 points and nine rebounds, and Jalen Brunson scored 20 points. Josh Hart finished with 12 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.

Jeremy Sochan had 21 points and nine rebounds for the Spurs.

T-wolf 105, Mavs 99

In Dallas, Anthony Edwards scored 26 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves held on for a Christmas Day victory after Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic left the game with a strained left calf.

A rematch of last season’s Western Conference final won by Dallas fell through when Doncic went lame while running a play late in the second quarter on Wednesday. Then it got wild as the Mavs erased almost all of a 28-point deficit in the second half.

The five-time All-Star never returned to the defensive end and limped off the court after Dallas called a timeout. It was Doncic’s second game after missing two with a bruised left heel.

Kyrie Irving scored 39 points but was short of a 3-pointer that would have given the Mavs the lead in the final minute after trailing by 28 late in the third quarter. Doncic scored 14 points.

Rudy Gobert had 14 points and 10 rebounds.

76ers 118, Celtics 114

In Boston, Joel Embiid recovered from a pregame fall and scored 27 points with nine rebounds, making 4 of 5 from 3-point range and hitting two free throws with 3 seconds left to put the last one back Boston rally.

Tyrese Maxey had 33 points and 12 assists. He scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, including a quick release layup to open a seven-point lead with about a minute left after the Sixers put the ball away with 1.1 seconds on the shot clock. Caleb Martin scored 23, hitting 7 of 9 from 3-point range.

Jayson Tatum scored 32 with 15 rebounds for Boston, Jaylen Brown scored 23 and Derrick White scored 21. Boston wore red socks and leggings with their green jerseys for an extra dose of Christmas spirit.

Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis, who has missed all but nine games this season due to injuries, did not return in the second half. The team said he was dealing with an ankle injury.