By: AP Written by San Antonio Spurs |
Updated: January 8, 2021 12:51:29 pm
A visit to Los Angeles proved to be simply what the San Antonio Spurs wanted to snap out of an early-season stoop.
Two nights after beating the Clippers to snap a four-game shedding streak, the Spurs picked up one other win at Staples Center on Thursday, this time defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 118-109.
LaMarcus Aldridge led San Antonio with a season-high 28 factors and was considered one of 5 in double figures. Demar DeRozan added 19 factors and eight assists.
“He scored for us and he worked hard on D,” stated Spurs coach Gregg Popovich about Aldridge. :You know, he’s guarding Anthony Davis on the market. That’s a fairly robust job. So he performed a extremely good throughout sport.”
The Spurs have been 16 of 35 on 3-pointers after making 20 from past the arc in opposition to the Clippers. Eight gamers made 3-pointers with Aldridge and Rudy Gay main the way in which with three apiece.
Gay hit a pair of 3-pointers throughout a 9-2 run halfway via the fourth quarter that broke the sport open after Los Angeles had pulled inside 96-93 on Montrezl Harrell’s layup.
“We were sharing the ball. Once you get into a good rhythm shooting it is contagious. When guys share the ball we have nights like tonight,” DeRozan stated.
Los Angeles Lakers ahead Anthony Davis dunks subsequent to San Antonio Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan through the first quarter of an NBA basketball sport Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
LeBron James had 27 factors and 12 assists whereas Davis added 23 factors and 10 rebounds for the Lakers, who had their four-game profitable streak snapped.
“We played a real poor defensive first half,” coach Frank Vogel stated. “We didn’t handle Aldridge well enough and as a result we got outplayed.”
The Lakers and Spurs have performed one another 3 times in 9 days with the street workforce profitable every time. Los Angeles took a pair final week in San Antonio.
San Antonio scored the primary 9 factors and led all the means. Lonnie Walker IV’s jumper gave the Spurs a 84-74 lead within the third quarter earlier than the Lakers went on a 15-5 run to tie it. Harrell’s putback off Talen Horton-Tucker’s miss evened it at 89 with 1:04 remaining earlier than the Spurs regained management.
The Spurs largest benefit was 15 factors late within the first quarter and so they have been up 65-56 at halftime.
POPOVICH SOUNDS OFF
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who hasn’t held again in expressing his views about President Donald Trump, stated he believed Trump loved Wednesday’s rebel, the place a violent mob loyal to the President stormed the U.S. Capitol to delay Congress from certifying the outcomes of November’s election.
“I believe with all my heart that Trump enjoyed it,” Popovich stated 90 minutes earlier than tipoff. “They talked in regards to the police and the way straightforward it was and the limitations have been pulled and so they simply walked proper in. That doesn’t occur except there’s a wink and a nod someplace. That simply doesn’t occur. It’s by no means occurred at any protest anyone’s ever been to.
“That’s why I don’t think it’s so far fetched for people to start talking about the 25th amendment. We know it probably won’t happen.”
Players and coaches from each groups locked arms in a circle at midcourt through the nationwide anthem.
TIP-INS
Spurs: Dejounte Murray added 18 factors and eight rebounds. … Drew Eubanks (well being and security protocols), Quinndary Weatherspoon (knee) and Derrick White (toe) have been inactive.
Lakers: Kyle Kuzma had 13 factors and 10 rebounds. … Los Angeles was 43 of 86 from the ground, marking the primary time in 36 video games it has misplaced when capturing at the very least 50%. … The Lakers scored 66 factors within the paint, marking the second time this season they’ve scored at the very least 60 factors inside. … Alex Caruso returned after being held out 5 video games because of the league’s COVID-19 protocols and scored eight factors in 20 minutes. … Guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope missed his third consecutive sport resulting from an ankle harm.
UP NEXT
Spurs: Travel to Minnesota on Saturday for the primary of two straight video games in opposition to the Timberwolves.
Lakers: Host the Chicago Bulls on Friday night time. Los Angeles is 0-1 through the second sport of back-to-back video games.
___