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Superstars in a direct duel: LeBron James with Stephen Curry
Photo:
Ashley Landis/AP
Four weeks before the end of the regular season in the North American professional basketball league NBA, the Golden State Warriors secured an important victory at the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Warriors won on Saturday (local time) 128:121 (67:66) and overtook the Lakers in the table.
They are currently in ninth place and would therefore have a home game against the Lakers in the NBA play-in tournament for the playoffs.
Behind them lurks the Houston Rockets, who won their fifth win in a row with a 117:103 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In Los Angeles, Stephen Curry returned to the Warriors' starting lineup after a three-game absence due to an ankle injury and scored 31 points.
On the other hand, LeBron James once again showed a dominant performance with 40 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.
However, after the first quarter, he and the Lakers sorely missed Anthony Davis, who had an eye injury.
After the Warriors had pulled away a bit at times, the Lakers came close again in the final phase.
But two video decisions and a problem with timing stopped their run.
In the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks remain on course for the playoffs with German center Isaiah Hartenstein.
After the 98:91 win at the Sacramento Kings, the Knicks remain in fourth place in the East.
Jalen Brunson scored more than 40 points in the second straight game.
Hartenstein showed a strong performance with 14 rebounds and four blocks, hit all of his shot attempts and scored seven points.
Dennis Schröder suffered a defeat with the Brooklyn Nets at the Indiana Pacers.
After an even first half, the Nets lost 100:121.
Schröder scored 13 points with a poor shooting rate and the playmaker lost four turnovers.
Brooklyn remains behind the play-in tournament spots.
ara/dpa