Lakers win in final LBJ-Wade duel
James edges close pal Wade as two stars cross paths on the court perhaps for the last time
LOS ANGELES— Dwyane Wade launched a 27foot fadeaway jumper that didn’t go down and the buzzer sounded on the Lakers’ 108-105 win over the Miami Heat on Monday night. It was the final meeting between Wade, who will retire after this season, and LeBron James in their 16 seasons in the NBA. They teamed up with the Heat in 2010, won two championships in 2012-2013 and reached four consecutive finals.
LOS ANGELES— LeBron James hit his first free throw to put the Lakers up by two. Dwyane Wade sidled up to him before the second shot. “Bro, just miss it so I can shoot the game-winner,” Wade said in the waning seconds of their last game together. “Me and you. One on one. Just let me shoot it and go for it.” LeBron didn’t miss. Dwyane didn’t really expect him to. They still got that last showdown, one on one with the game on the line. Wade launched a 27-foot fadeaway jumper that didn’t go down, and the buzzer eventually sounded on the Lakers’ 108-105 victory over Miami on Monday night while they scrapped for one last rebound. To the final moment in their 16 seasons of stardom, these rivals and teammates competed with passion and love. When it was over, they hugged and vowed to get together soon. “That’s just us,” James said. “Some people say you shouldn’t be friends with your competitors. But even with our friendship, we competed against each other and we pushed each other.”
James scored 28 points and Los Angeles survived Wade’s 15-point performance in the second half.
James and Wade savored what was likely the final joint chapter of two careers that have intersected repeatedly since they entered the NBA together in 2003. After seven seasons as Eastern Conference rivals, Wade and James teamed up with the Heat in 2010 to win two championships while reaching four consecutive NBA Finals, and they spent half of last season together in Cleveland.
Wade intends to retire after this season, and Staples Center sent him out of Los Angeles in style with multiple standing ovations and a tribute video in the first quarter. Wade’s wife, actor Gabrielle Union, was among the fans at courtside as the high-scoring guard played 32 minutes and got rolling with a second-half flurry that recalled his prime.
James and Wade both missed big shots down the stretch, but James hit those two free throws with 22.5 seconds left. They also got to guard each other down the stretch, their teammates stepping back to allow the superstars to revel in the spotlight.
“This was the last time I was going to be able to guard him, so I waited to the end,” said Wade, who finished with 10 assists and five rebounds after a scoreless first half. “He knows my moves just like I know his moves. I just wanted to enjoy the competition for the last time.”
In Oakland, California, Steve Kerr long ago ran out of superlatives to describe Stephen Curry.
The Warriors coach isn’t even trying anymore, not with the way his All-Star point guard is playing since coming back from a groin injury.
Curry had 38 points, seven rebounds and six assists, and Golden State beat the Minnesota Timberwolves, 116-108, in Draymond Green’s return to the Warriors’ lineup.
Klay Thompson scored 26 points and Kevin Durant had 22 as Golden State prepared for Wednesday’s showdown with Toronto by earning its fourth straight win.
Curry went 7 for 14 from 3point range.
“He’s good at basketball,” Kerr deadpanned. “Nothing he does surprises me.”
In Boston, Kyrie Irving’s shoulder wasn’t sore enough to keep him from cheering for Marcus Morris Sr. when he hit three 3-pointers to start the second half and propel Boston to a double-digit lead.
Al Horford’s injured knee didn’t keep him from leaping to his feet when Jayson Tatum drove past Anthony Davis for a dunk.
With four of their regulars relegated to cheerleaders, the Celtics got a season-high 31 points from Morris and another 21 from Tatum to beat New Orleans, 113-100, their sixth straight victory.
“The first thing was be a leader,” Morris said. “We had a lot of guys down… and keep trying to play the right way with the guys out there.”
Some people say you shouldn’t be friends with your competitors. But even with our friendship, we competed against each other and we pushed each other LEBRON JAMES Los Angeles Lakers