In a crucial Western Conference game on Saturday night, the Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 128-121 behind 31 points from Stephen Curry, 26 points from Klay Thompson, and 2 steals.

The Lakers, who lost Anthony Davis to an eye injury in the last three quarters, were led by LeBron James, who finished with 40 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds.

After winning a game that went to extra time due to two replay reviews, one of which reversed an apparent 3-pointer by James, and a broken clock, the Warriors edged out the Lakers by a percentage point to take ninth place in the Western Conference.

With 2:47 left in the first quarter, Davis was driving to the hoop for a layup when Trayce Jackson-Davis of Golden State jabbed him in the left eye. For the next five minutes, Davis continued to play, but as he headed to the locker room, his eye was swelled shut.

The injury was labeled an eye contusion by the Lakers.

Warriors guard Stephen Curry controls the ball during the first half of a game against the Lakers in Los Angeles March 16, 2024.

Golden State dominated inside and frequently drove into the paint, taking advantage of Davis’ injury. The Warriors led the Lakers 62–54 in points in the paint and outrebounded them by a margin of six.

After missing the previous game due to back soreness, Draymond Green finished with six points, 12 rebounds, and 13 assists for the Warriors, while Jonathan Kuminga added 23 points.

D’Angelo Russell gave the Lakers, who have lost their last two games, an additional 23 points and 13 assists.

Curry, who turned 36 on Thursday, had a sprained right ankle that kept him out of three games. With 7:41 left in the first half, he made his first three attempts go missing before grabbing a rebound off a missed shot himself and finishing the play. In 31 minutes, the two-time MVP finished 12 of 24 from the field with six rebounds and five assists.

During the Warriors’ 10-2 third-quarter run that put them ahead 91-79, he scored six points. Up until then, neither team had led by more than seven points.

With 21 points from Thompson in the first half, the Warriors led 67-66 at the break. Thompson scored at least 20 goals in the first half of the game for the second time this season.

James shot 15 of 23 from the field against the Warriors after going 6 of 16 against Sacramento on Wednesday night. Three of his first six shots were made by him.

With 7:41 left in the fourth quarter, Thompson’s 3-pointer gave the Warriors a 113-101 lead, and the Lakers steadily began to rally.

With 2:07 left, James looked to have put the Lakers within four points with a 3-pointer, but the replay center ruled that James’ foot was out of bounds and the basket was taken away during a play stoppage.

With 1:35 left, there was a challenge on another out-of-bounds play, a replay reversal, and a shot clock malfunction.

The Lakers’ momentum was destroyed by the reversal. When Curry stole the ball from James and gave it to Kuminga for a breakaway dunk to make it 126-117, the Warriors effectively ended the game.