Anthony Davis shined with an impressive 40 points and 12 rebounds, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 120-115 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. The game marked the Lakers’ opening match in defense of their Emirates NBA Cup title. LeBron James contributed significantly as well, recording a triple-double with 15 points, 16 rebounds, and 12 assists—his fourth in a row, a personal best.
San Antonio’s rookie sensation, Victor Wembanyama, put up a strong performance with 28 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and two blocks. Wembanyama had previously set a career-high of 50 points in a win over Washington earlier in the week. However, it was the Lakers’ depth that shone through, with Austin Reaves, Dalton Knecht, and D’Angelo Russell adding 19, 14, and 13 points respectively.
Despite the Spurs starting strong with an 11-0 lead and an alley-oop dunk from Wembanyama, the Lakers rallied, with Davis scoring 16 points in the first quarter as his team closed the period on a 21-8 run to take a 31-30 lead.
Chris Paul also made headlines with his 11 points and 11 assists, marking a career milestone of 12,008 assists, making him one of only three players in NBA history to reach this milestone.
A pivotal moment came when the Lakers led by just one point at 116-115. An offensive foul called on Paul during a crucial play led to a layup by James, extending the Lakers’ lead to 118-115 with just 25 seconds on the clock.
In terms of stats, the Lakers dominated on second-chance points with a notable 15-6 advantage, showcasing their tenacity on the boards.
Looking ahead, the Lakers are set to face the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, while the Spurs will head to Dallas.
This victory highlights the Lakers’ strong start to the season, showcasing their star power and teamwork, which bodes well for their upcoming challenges as they aim to defend their title.