Lakers Hang On Late to Beat Spurs
The Lakers extended their winning streak to five games with a late rally, narrowly defeating the Spurs 118-117. Despite challenges in the fourth quarter, Los Angeles held on after a crucial turnover by Marcus Smart and a foul on Jake LaRavia almost jeopardized their comeback.
Key Player Performances
- Luka Dončić led with 35 points, nine rebounds, 13 assists, five steals, and two blocks.
- Rui Hachimura contributed 15 points, shooting 5-9 from the field.
- Deandre Ayton added 22 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks.
Game Overview
The Lakers began slowly, struggling with their shooting. Luka Dončić made the team’s only points early with a 3-pointer. Los Angeles trailed by seven points before their offense improved, closing the gap to two. Meanwhile, San Antonio shot an impressive 50% from three-point range, compared to the Lakers' 14%.
Julian Champagnie led the Spurs scoring with nine points. At 6:16 in the first quarter, Los Angeles was down by six points but successfully limited Victor Wembanyama’s impact, holding him scoreless initially. The first quarter was dominated by Luka, with only Dalton Knecht scoring more than two points for the Lakers. By the end of the first quarter, Los Angeles trailed by three.
Victor Wembanyama started the second quarter with a scoring play off the glass. Bronny James came off the bench and made a jumper on his first shot attempt.
"It wasn’t easy, but the Lakers rallied back in the fourth to beat the Spurs 118-117 to extend their winning streak to five."
"Late in the fourth, the Lakers looked like they were in perfect position to win, until a costly turnover from Marcus Smart and a foul call on Jake LaRavia nearly choked away a gritty comeback."
Summary
The Lakers overcame slow shooting and late-game pressure to secure a narrow win over the Spurs, led by Luka Dončić’s outstanding all-around performance.