[ad_1]
Darren Abate / Associated Press
The Los Angeles Lakers earned their fourth win in five games, beating the San Antonio Spurs 109-103 on Friday.
This was the second meeting between the teams in three days, as the NBA adjusted the schedule to slightly reduce travel amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anthony Davis finished with a double-double for Los Angeles, while LeBron James did better with a triple-double. Davis hit a critical triple that tied the game at 103 with 2:26 left in the fourth quarter.
Kyle Kuzma and James buckets proved to be the difference as the Spurs were scoreless in the final 2:34.
The game was close from start to finish, with the leadership changing hands. 21 times.
Notable performers
Anthony Davis, PF, Lakers: 34 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, two steals
LeBron James, SF, Lakers: 26 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, two steals
DeMar DeRozan, SG, Spurs: 23 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, one block
Keldon Johnson, SG, Spurs: 26 points, 10 rebounds, two steals, one assist, one block
AD sounds in New Years right
Turns out having Davis in 2021 is just as valuable as it was in 2020. James filled out the stat sheet, but Davis was the biggest star down the stretch.
The seven-time All-Star hasn’t gotten off to a great start. He was averaging 19.8 points and 8.3 rebounds, which would be the lowest since his rookie season. This was the kind of performance that justified the preseason MVP hype.
Of course, it’s a testament to LeBron’s greatness that he can drop a 26-point triple-double and make you feel somewhat muted.
This was one of those nights where leaning on Davis and James comes in handy. Alex Caruso was out and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope clocked 17 minutes. Dennis Schroder scored 15 points, but was 6-of-15 from the field and had three assists and three turnovers. Montrezl Harrell grabbed 11 rebounds but scored just four points.
The supporting cast didn’t fully deliver, and it didn’t matter because the Lakers had the best two players.
Johnson, DeRozan’s Combined Efforts Are Not Enough
Keldon Johnson was limited to 17 games as a rookie, but hit the 20-point plateau three times. He averaged 12.3 points in San Antonio’s first four games, and his performance on Friday was a personal record.
The Spurs missed the playoffs in 2019-20 and could struggle to enter the postseason field once again. This time it’s about developing younger players and seeing who is worth building for the future. With that in mind, seeing Johnson step up and throw big shots at the decisive moment was a positive sign.
DeMar DeRozan, on the other hand, may not be long in San Antonio as he will hit free agency after the season. As long as he’s on the roster, your contributions will be instrumental in charting a path back to the playoffs.
Friday was a reminder of what to bring on your best night.
Being beaten 28-18 in the fourth quarter will hurt, but Johnson’s performance is reason enough for some optimism.
Whats Next?
The Lakers stay on the road for a couple of games against the Memphis Grizzlies Sundays and Tuesdays. The Spurs host the Utah Jazz on Sunday before embarking on a five-game road trip.
[ad_2]
