NBA: LeBron James puts up 30 as Lakers down Spurs

LeBron James poured in 30 points and Anthony Davis added 28 points and 13 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the visiting San Antonio 123-118 on Friday.

The Lakers led by seven points at halftime and by 15 midway through the third quarter before San Antonio closed within 97-90 heading into the final period.

Los Angeles then outscored the Spurs 19-8 over the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter, with James putting up 10 points in that decisive stretch. San Antonio trailed by 15 with two minutes left before slicing into the final margin without seriously threatening the outcome.

D’Angelo Russell contributed 22 points for the Lakers while Rui Hachimura had 17 and Austin Reeves scored 10. Los Angeles, with James back in the lineup after missing two games with a sore ankle, won for the fourth time in the past five games.

Victor Wembanyama led San Antonio with 27 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, five steals and five blocked shots. Malaki Branham added 17 off the bench, Jeremy Sochan produced 15 points and 13 rebounds and Zach Collins and Keldon Johnson scored 14 each.

The Spurs have lost three straight games and 10 of their past 11, falling to 1-6 on the first seven contests of their nine-game road trip.

Wembanyama started hot, scoring 13 points as the Spurs forged a 15-9 lead. As soon as he went to the bench, Los Angeles took advantage, reeling off the last 11 points of a 14-0 run capped. Davis’s alley-oop dunk capped the sequence and gave the hosts a 23-15 edge.

The Lakers led 30-26 after the first 12 minutes of play.

Los Angeles expanded its advantage to 12 points early in the second quarter when Russell canned a pair or 3-pointers around a Hachimura layup. But the Spurs swung back, and they were down just 66-59 at the break.

Davis’s 20 points and eight rebounds before halftime led the Lakers. San Wembanyama amassed 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals in 15 minutes of first-half court time.

–Field Level Media/Reuters