What Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were in the world of football, LeBron James and Steph Curry are still in basketball... Years pass, and the two geniuses are still fighting big and important NBA battles.
On Wednesday early morning (04.00:XNUMX) our time, two masters will meet again - LA Lakers and Golden State will start the semi-final series of the West.
During the last 11 years, Lebron and Steph were NBA champions four times each, their duels were always a special story, and five of them remain for all time.
5. First epic battle - Lebron silences Oakland
One of the first epic stories between James and Curry was told during the league part of the 2013/14 season, when LeBron was still a member of Miami.
At the time, little-known Curry played an excellent match, scoring 29 points and shooting "four-of-four" three-pointers, but LeBron was a story of his own.
He scored 36 points, had 13 rebounds and nine assists, and hit a 0,2-pointer for the win with XNUMX seconds remaining in the then "Oracle Arena" in Oakland.
4. Curry's flight to the first ring
The following season (2014/15), Golden State reached the first ring in the new golden era, and it seems that the key step towards it was made in the fifth match of the finals against LeBron's Cleveland.
And, in that match, Kari "exploded" with 37 points, including seven three-pointers from 13 attempts. His three-pointer in the finish put the Warriors up 11, and then he hit four free throws to close the story.
On the other hand, LeBron James responded with 40 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists.
3. When JR Smith erased LeBron's 51 in the Finals
Last night, Steph Curry sent Sacramento out of the playoffs with 50 points, and LeBron James scored 51 points against him five years ago in the first match of the finals between Cleveland and Golden State.
True, then in vain because of the stupidity of JR Smith.
The Cavaliers had a chance to win in the regular course of the match, George Hill had two free throws at 4,7 seconds, he missed the second, and the ball was caught by his and LeBron's teammate Smith... Instead of shooting, Smith ran away from the basket and was wasting time, because he thought his team was in the lead - in vain James motioned for him to turn to the basket.
It was late, the match went into overtime, and Golden State took the lead there.
2. When Kari wakes up
Two years earlier (2016), Cleveland and Golden State met in the finals, and the fourth match was marked by Steph Curry with 38 points (seven three-pointers). And that after three weak performances in the final.
Lebron was also good (25 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists), but it seemed that Curry "pushed" the Warriors to a crucial victory on the way to a new title, given that Golden State took a 3:1 lead in the series.
However...
1. The king's crown in a crazy twist
Cleveland, however, did not give up and in 2016, they went from 1:3 to 3:3, and in the seventh match, the "king" LeBron brought his Cleveland the first and so far only NBA crown.
First, Kyri Irving hit a three-pointer right over Kari and brought Kavalis to 92:89, and on the other side, Kari was not accurate for overtime.
Two freebies followed for James - he hit one and put an end to the historic triumph.
In the seventh match, Lebron scored 27 points and had 11 rebounds and 11 assists.
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