Stephen Curry scored 37 points to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 123-116 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night, April 3, 2025.
The important victory, which took place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, moved the Warriors closer to securing a spot in the NBA playoffs. Golden State is now fifth in the Western Conference standings with a 45-31 record.
Curry, who had scored 52 points in their previous game against the Memphis Grizzlies, once again showed his strength in the third quarter, helping the Warriors take control of the match.
Speaking after the game, Curry said, “We’ve set a goal of trying to lift our level of play, preparing hopefully for a playoff series. The intensity has been crazy, but that’s what you love — having something to play for is special.”
Brandin Podziemski also had a strong night, scoring 28 points and making eight of ten three-point shots to give extra firepower to the Warriors’ offense.
For the Lakers, 40-year-old LeBron James led with 33 points, while Austin Reaves added 31 points, including nine three-pointers. But it wasn’t enough to stop Golden State’s momentum.
The Lakers now sit in fourth place with a 46-30 record, just ahead of the third-place Denver Nuggets who have 47 wins and 30 losses.
Meanwhile, the playoff race in the West is heating up, with several teams fighting for the top six spots.
In another Western Conference game, Ja Morant scored a buzzer-beater to give the Memphis Grizzlies a 110-108 win over the Miami Heat. Morant finished with 30 points — 27 of them coming in the second half.
“The crowd booing me — they just woke me up for the second half,” Morant said after the game. The win keeps Memphis in sixth place with a 45-32 record.
Also, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Brooklyn Nets 105-90 in New York. Anthony Edwards, who briefly left the game with an ankle injury, returned to score 28 points and help his team stay in the playoff race.
In the Eastern Conference, the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 126-113. Giannis Antetokounmpo had a huge game with 35 points, 17 rebounds, and 20 assists. Seven Bucks players scored in double figures.
Milwaukee’s head coach, Doc Rivers, had to leave the game after feeling sick. Assistant coach Darvin Ham stepped in and led the team to victory.
“He just tapped me on the shoulder and said, ‘You got it from here man, my stomach is messed up,’” Ham said. “Next man up. That’s why you build a good crew.”
The Bucks now sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with a 42-34 record.
