The NBA is still the kings of Christmas

Game 4 of spectacular NBA Christmas season brought another chapter in the rivalry that conquered the league in the last decade. It was a heated duel between two of the greatest players of all time.

The conclusion from the Chase Center was clear: they will be greatly missed when they are gone. Yet in the midst of it timeless confrontationa third protagonist appeared—Austin Reaves. The triple-double (26 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) and a decisive game against the lukewarm defense of Andrew Wiggins instituted by LeBron (31 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists) signaled a tangible transition. When the torch is passed, basketball will be in good hands.

The NBA delivered a Christmas present

The first quarter ended with a 23-23 tie, setting the stage for the dunk of the day: Kuminga’s right hand on Max Christieshrugging off the double coverage from Christie and Hachimura. A 12-2 run brought the Warriors back midway through the second quarter. However, the The game took a somber turn when Anthony Davis left with an accidental sprained ankle as he heads for the paint.

The inning came with a back-and-forth shootout between LeBron and Curryeach unleashing their best arsenal. Still, the back-to-back triple-for-triple challenge electrified the Chase Center LeBron left some shots on the rim. In the Lakers’ final push, with Reaves providing relentless energy on the perimeter, the visitors pulled ahead 55-52.

Kuminga fought bravely in the third quarterbut the Lakers outshot the Warriors 29-24. However, as always, this was LeBron vs. Curry – a saga for the ages. And, inevitably, this provided a dramatic climax. While Reaves refused to play a mere supporting role, “The Chef” and “The King” turned up the heat.

A magic basketball sequence included: a the legendary LeBron block on Kuminga and a three-pointer by Schröderreminiscent of Klay Thompson’s iconic catch-and-shoot moments at the Chase Center. The game descended into chaos as Curry hit improbable long shots while LeBron orchestrated a counterattack. In clutch moments (under 2:40 in the fourth quarter), the two titans traded blows. Nostalgia hit hard.

With less than a minute to play, Steph, closely guarded by LeBron, drilled a corner three-pointer that seemed unreal to mere mortals. Moments later, he added a more orthodox direct shot, using Christie’s screen and exploiting the gap created by Green’s defensive seal on Reaves. The scoreboard read 113-113 with just 6.3 seconds left.

But the night didn’t belong to LeBron. Instead, Austin Reaves stepped up, boldly asking for the ball. From the inbounds pass, he drove past Wiggins and delivered a decisive reverse layup — a simple but clutch finish. LeBron had laid the groundwork and Reaves stole Christmas in San Francisco. Curry’s last-second desperation attempt went in, leaving the Warriors and their fans silently stunned. Pandemonium ensued.

SEE ALSO: Steph Curry admits ‘the end is near’ for glittering career

Despite the hit 40% of three points (8 of 15 for Steph), it wasn’t enough for the Warriors. Sometimes even greatness fades away. And when it does, Austin Reaves will be there. LeBron can breathe easy knowing the future is bright.

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