Lakers Vs Warriors: LeBron’s 1,000th Lakers 3s, Doncic Birthday Outburst Lift L.A. to 129-101 Win
The Lakers Vs Warriors matchup produced a decisive 129-101 road victory for Los Angeles, highlighted by LeBron James becoming the second player in franchise history to make 1, 000 3-pointers with the Lakers and Luka Dončić celebrating his 27th birthday with a four-3s surge early in the third quarter. The result ended a three-game skid for the Lakers and left both teams with their current records at 35-24 for Los Angeles and 31-29 for Golden State.
Lakers Vs Warriors: Milestone night for LeBron James
LeBron James, 41, opened the game by making his first four 3-point attempts and reached the 1, 000-made-3 threshold with the Lakers during the victory. He finished the game with 22 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. Those four first-half 3-pointers were the most LeBron has recorded in a single half this season; he entered halftime with 20 points and closed the game with 22.
James is in his eighth season with the Lakers, having first joined the team in 2018. His contract is set to expire at the end of the 2025-26 campaign, his 23rd season in the league. He missed the first 14 games of the season because of sciatica but has remained healthy since returning. For his career, James has made 2, 618 career 3-pointers, including 1, 251 with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Dominant team performance and individual contributions
The Lakers attacked the Warriors from the opening quarter, building a 17-point lead in the first quarter, stretching it to 24 in the second, and pushing the margin to 30 in the third before leading by 32 in the fourth and coasting the rest of the way. Los Angeles shot 53% from the field and made 19 of 41 from 3-point range, a 46% mark from deep for the night.
Luka Dončić, who turned 27 on Saturday, caught fire in the third quarter with four consecutive triples early in the period and finished with 26 points, eight assists and six rebounds in 29 minutes. Austin Reaves added 18 points in 28 minutes. Role contributors included Luke Kennard with 16 points and Jake LaRavia with 15 off the bench.
Franchise 3-point leaders and context
With James joining the 1, 000-made-3 club for the Lakers, the franchise's top five all-time 3-point makers stand as follows:
- Kobe Bryant: 1, 827
- LeBron James: 1, 002
- Derek Fisher: 846
- Nick Van Exel: 750
- Byron Scott: 595
The milestone places James alongside Kobe Bryant as the only two players in Lakers history to reach at least 1, 000 made 3s with the franchise.
Warriors availability and Curry’s status
The Warriors entered the game shorthanded and dug themselves a double-digit hole in the first quarter. Kristaps Porziņģis was out due to illness, while Stephen Curry remained sidelined nursing a right knee injury. Curry has not yet gotten on the court and said he is working to stay in shape and strengthen surrounding areas of his body. He indicated that a reevaluation was planned for Sunday and that it may take a little longer before he returns, noting that once he is back it will be a ‘‘full sprint to the playoffs’’ and that managing pain tolerance and preventing lingering issues are priorities.
Additional availability notes from the night included a listed absence for Jimmy Butler with a right anterior cruciate ligament surgery.
Standings, recent form and what’s next
The win halted the Lakers’ three-game losing streak and improved their overall record to 35-24. Los Angeles is 2-3 since the All-Star break and will attempt to maintain its position near the top six in the Western Conference when it faces the Sacramento Kings at Crypto. com Arena on Sunday night. The Lakers enter that matchup looking to build on a balanced offensive showing and better continuity after lineup disruptions earlier in the stretch.
Notable earlier moments and other game notes
Earlier in the week, the Lakers overcame a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter only for Royce O’Neale to hit a winning three-pointer with less than a second left in the Suns’ victory. On the night in San Francisco, the Lakers’ performance featured sustained offense and improved ball movement, elements their coach described as a return to a more consistent level of play and execution over all four quarters.
Recent developments from the game and player availability may evolve as teams confirm health updates and reevaluations ahead of the playoff stretch.
