SAN ANTONIO, Nov. 27 (BNA): LeBron James picked the perfect time for his best offensive production this season.
James scored a season-high 39 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 143-138 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night, the Associated Press reported.
“We gave up a ton in transition, turned the ball over, and just couldn’t get a defensive bounce at times,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “But then again, when you’re able to score the ball, it covers up a lot of fouls.”
San Antonio lost eight in a row, tied for the fourth longest skid in franchise history.
James made a career-high seven three-pointers. He finished 11-for-21 from the field, including a booming one-handed dunk on a lob by Russell Westbrook with a minute remaining in the first half.
While James was playing in his second game after missing five games, LA’s Anthony Davis sat with a bruised left calf he sustained in Friday’s win over San Antonio.
“We’re still perfect and doing what we do best,” said ex-Tottenham goalkeeper Lonnie Walker4. “And LeBron took us home, and he took us to victory.”
The Lakers (7-12) have defeated the Spurs three times in seven games.
Dennis Schroeder scored 21 points and six assists for Los Angeles. Walker scored 19 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, to secure the Lakers’ fifth win in six games.
“It just feels like you’re not really sure about each other, we just don’t know each other,” James said of the beginning. “But over the last couple of weeks, we’ve continued to learn each other, continue to play some good ball, share the ball.”
Keldon Johnson scored 26 points and 10 rebounds for San Antonio. Tre Jones added 23 points and 13 assists, and Devin Vassell had 19 points.
After trailing entirely in Friday’s loss, San Antonio scored the first points of the game on a short jump by Jacob Poeltel. It was the first lead for the Spurs since November 20 against the Lakers.
“They have great personality,” said San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich. “I thought they were brilliant. I’m proud of them. They keep playing. It doesn’t matter what the score is, who’s there or who’s not there, they can get along incredibly well and they try so hard to do what we want them to do. I was thrilled.” And proud of them tonight.”
After shooting 6-for-33 on three-pointers in Friday’s loss, the Spurs had 18 three-pointers. San Antonio was 8-for-15 in 3 seconds in the first half and 18-for-37 overall.
The momentum stalled when the Spurs lost two starters to a right quadriceps injury in the second quarter.
Bueltle scored 12 points and nine rebounds in 10 minutes before being knocked out of the game with 7:59 left in the first half. Bieltel felt sore after landing awkwardly on a dunk.
Then San Antonio lost rookie forward Jeremy Suchan with 4:54 left in the first period. Suchan took his knee to his right thigh when Thomas Bryant blocked his throw attempt.
Tottenham also lost reserve center Zach Collins after he was sent off due to a flagrant foul on Westbrook two minutes before the end of the third quarter.
Tip-ins
Lakers: Westbrook suffered a deep gash at his hairline after taking a right elbow from Collins. After bouncing off a missed layup, Westbrook faked the follow-up and Collins jumped and collapsed on him. Westbrook immediately began bleeding profusely but quickly rose from the court to confront Collins. Westbrook was issued a technical foul but Collins was sent off after a video review. J. Patrick Beverly served the second game of a three-game suspension after aggressively shoving Phoenix center Deandre Ayton from behind in Tuesday’s loss.
Spurs: San Antonio’s longest losing streak was 13 straight in 1989 followed by 10 straight in 1987 and nine straight in 1989. The Spurs have lost eight straight in five other seasons, including 2020 and 1989. San Antonio finished 21-61 in 1989, their last season From David Robinson’s two-year commitment to Navy before joining Tottenham. Josh Richardson missed his third straight game with a sprained right ankle.
next one
Lakers: Hosts Indiana on Monday.
Spurs: In Oklahoma City on Wednesday.