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SAN ANTONIO • The Los Angeles Lakers know that it is impossible to play as National Basketball Association (NBA) champions every game this season, and what matters most to their coach Frank Vogel is getting the “ugly victories.”
Anthony Davis scored 34 points and 11 rebounds, and the Lakers rallied in the end with a 9-0 run to defeat host San Antonio Spurs 109-103 on Friday.
“We persist in our struggles,” Vogel said. “That’s going to happen from time to time. In a 72-game season, you’re going to have some wins that are uglier than others.
“We knew that going into this season, with the quick change, there was going to be some bad nights.
“The key is to find a way to win when you are not at your best.”
LeBron James had 26 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and two steals for the Lakers, who beat the Spurs for the second time in three days.
They also earned a 121-107 win at San Antonio on Wednesday behind James’ 26 points.
Dennis Schroder added 15 points and Kyle Kuzma contributed 11 for the Lakers. Montrezl Harrell took 11 boards for Los Angeles.
Keldon Johnson led the Spurs with his career-high 26 points, while DeMar DeRozan had 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
Rudy Gay had 15 points, Dejounte Murray scored 12 and Patty Mills scored 10.
It was Johnson’s only fourth game with more than 20 points in two seasons. Only Hall of Famer Tim Duncan had more than 20-point efforts in the first 25 games of his career with the Spurs, getting six during his rookie season.
“He’s a competitor,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said of Johnson. “He’s a good young player and he’s going to have a great career. That’s all I can say. He’s been wonderful.”
A tip from Kuzma and a bucket inside from James put the Lakers up 107-103 with 28.6 seconds remaining.
After Derrick White missed a jump shot, Davis sealed the victory with a pair of free throws.
Neither team led by more than seven points.
Unlike Wednesday’s loss, the Spurs were able to keep up with the Lakers early.
“We played a great basketball team, and we were also a good basketball team tonight,” Popovich said. “So, he was happy with his game.”
A 16-6 increase early in the third quarter propelled the Spurs to a 73-70 lead after a 3-pointer by Johnson with 6 minutes, 47 seconds left.
The two teams traded lead until a triple by Gay and a jump shot by DeRozan led the Spurs to an 85-81 lead into the fourth quarter.
Overall, the Lakers shot 40.6 percent and the Spurs made 42.4 percent of their shots.
“His game plan was changed,” Kuzma said. “They added a slightly different element for us. We had to adjust down the stretch.”
Spurs center LaMarcus Aldridge (knee) missed his second straight game, while the Lakers lost guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who finished with 11 points in 17 minutes, in the third quarter with a sprained ankle.
Lakers reserve guard Alex Caruso, who did not travel with the team, was sidelined for the third straight game, reportedly due to health and safety protocols.
REUTERS
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