Sans LeBron James and Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic carries the load as the LA Lakers roll to a fifth consecutive victory after holding off the San Antonio Spurs.
No Lebron James and Austin Reaves, no problem for the LA Lakers.
Luka Doncic flirted with a 30-point triple-double, spearheading the undermanned Lakers to a gutsy 118-116 comeback win over the San Antonio Spurs for a fifth consecutive win on Thursday, November 6 (PH time).
Returning from a one-game absence due to a lower-leg contusion, Doncic put on a show with 35 points, 13 assists, nine rebounds, and a career-high five steals.
The Spurs looked to force overtime when Julian Champagnie drew a foul from Jake LaRavia on a layup.
But Champagnie missed the first free throw and intentionally missed the second, leaving Keldon Johnson’s putback attempt to drift wide.
The ending followed an earlier odd moment when Marcus Smart was flagged for a lane violation on an inbound play, contributing to the chaotic finish.
With the win, the Lakers improved to 7-2 start and jumped to solo second in the West just behind the defending champion OKC Thunder (8-1).
DeAndre Ayton chipped in a solid 16-point, 10-rebound double-double as Smart and Rui Hachimura had 17 and 15 points respectively.
LA played without Reaves (groin) and LeBron James (back) on top of missing Gabe Vincent (ankle), Maxi Kleber (oblique), and Adou Thiero (knee).
Victor Wembanyama topped the Spurs (5–2) with 19 points, yet he was among three San Antonio players who fouled out in a contest marked by 66 fouls and 84 total free-throw attempts across both teams.
The Lakers begin a five-game road swing in Atlanta to take on the Hawks (4–4), as the Spurs head back home for a showdown with surging Houston Rockets (5–2).
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.