LeBron James, Rui Hachimura Thrill NBA Fans in Win vs. Draymond Green, Warriors as Steph Curry Out

Lebron James and Rui Hachimura combined for 38 points to lift the Los Angeles Lakers to a win over Draymond Green and the Golden State Warriors at home on Saturday. 

Both teams were without their leading scorers on Saturday in Stephen Curry and Luka Doncic. 

Curry has been sidelined for the past three games after last playing Jan. 30 against Detroit, dealing with a right knee issue the team listed as patellofemoral pain syndrome, commonly known as runner's knee, according to ESPN. The Warriors have also been without Jimmy Butler, who suffered an ACL injury Jan. 19.

Doncic exited Thursday's game late in the second quarter and was later ruled out of Saturday's matchup with a left hamstring strain, ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported.

Despite the absence of both superstars, the teams delivered an entertaining matchup at crypto.com Arena.

James paced the Lakers with 20 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists, while Hachimura added 18 points on 70 percent shooting as the duo stepped up in the absence of the team's leading scorer. Marcus Smart finished with 15 points and two blocks, and Austin Reaves provided a spark off the bench with 16 points.

For Golden State, Green posted nine points, six assists and four rebounds. Moses Moody led the Warriors with 25 points and four rebounds, while Gary Payton II added 13 points and Brandin Podziemski chipped in 14 off the bench in the loss.

Fans reacted to James, Hachimura and the Lakers pulling off the win over the Warriors with one of its stars sidelined.

With the win, the Lakers improved to 32-19 and continued their push with the Houston Rockets for fourth place in the Western Conference. The Warriors fell to 28-25 and remained eighth in the West.

Golden State carried a slim 42-41 halftime lead behind 10 points from Moody and nine from Pat Spencer in a low-scoring first half, with the rest of the starters combining for just three points. Gary Payton II and Brandin Podziemski added nine points apiece off the bench.

James had seven points, six rebounds and four assists at the break for Los Angeles, while Hachimura added 10 points.

The Lakers took control in the third quarter, leading by eight after Hachimura drilled a 3-pointer at the buzzer off a James assist. Los Angeles extended the margin to 12 late, and despite a late Golden State push, the absence of Curry loomed large as the Lakers closed out the win.

Golden State will open a four-game homestand Monday against the Memphis Grizzlies. Los Angeles will continue its homestand Monday against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.