Curry commends LeBron, longtime rivalry after back-and-forth battle

Stephen Curry couldn't help but salute LeBron James after the two engaged in one of the season's best games Saturday.

Despite his Golden State Warriors falling 145-144 in double overtime against James' Los Angeles Lakers, Curry said postgame that he's grateful he and James can still go toe-to-toe well into their 30s.

"Every year that we get to do this and go back and forth, the battles - the Finals runs, the playoff battles last year - after the horn sounded tonight, there was a little laugh of, I can't imagine a scenario where a game like tonight happens, (with) him in Season 21 and me in Year 15," Curry said, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin.

"You look forward to the battles, but you also appreciate the mutual respect of what it takes to keep doing what you're doing at this level. Only a few people know how hard it is. I'm happy to be in that group."

Curry finished with a season-high 46 points in the loss, including a clutch three with just under five seconds left in the second overtime that gave Golden State a one-point lead. But James responded with a drive on the next play that resulted in game-winning free throws following a foul by Draymond Green. The Lakers superstar recorded a career-high 20 rebounds in the contest while adding 36 points and 12 assists.

James and Curry embraced each other on the court immediately after the marathon contest.

Saturday's blockbuster was the 21st time the two surefire Hall of Famers competed head-to-head in the regular season. James holds an 11-10 edge in the matchups. However, Curry owns a 17-11 postseason record over James, with most of those encounters coming during their four straight meetings in the NBA Finals from 2015-18.

"It's been a treat to go against one of the greatest to ever play this game," James said about competing against Curry. "For us to continue to push each other at the state of our careers, you don't take it for granted because you don't know how many times you're actually going to get the moment to actually be on the same floor with such a talent."