LeBron's Double-Double Excites Lakers Fans Even as Spurs Advance in NBA Cup Bracket
LeBron James' thrilling performance wasn't enough to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to victory on Wednesday night, falling to the San Antonio Spurs by the final score of 132-119 in the NBA Cup quarterfinals.
James finished with a double-double by scoring 19 points and grabbing a season-high 15 rebounds to go along with eight assists and three blocks. He shot 7-of-14 from the field, highlighted by a poster dunk in the second quarter.
Despite the loss, fans still praised the 40-year-old's overall performance along with the one-handed jam.
Both teams fought hard in the first quarter, tied 24-24 with just over three minutes remaining in the period. The Spurs ended the quarter on a 15-6 run to gain some separation heading into the second, though.
San Antonio pushed its advantage to 18 points early in the second quarter, but Los Angeles fought back and pulled to within eight points just before the half ended. The Spurs entered halftime with a 70-58 edge.
A 17-8 run from San Antonio to open the third quarter gave the team a 21-point lead, keeping the Lakers out of striking distance until the fourth.
Los Angeles made a late run and cut the deficit to eight points with just under four minutes remaining in the game, although the Spurs responded with a 10-2 run to seal the win.
Luka Dončić finished with a game-high 35 points on 11-of-24 shooting, recording eight assists and five rebounds.
Austin Reaves scored 15 points and racked up seven assists of his own, but shot just 6-of-16 from the field. Marcus Smart also chipped in with 26 points off the bench.
The Lakers struggled defensively, allowing San Antonio to end the game with 50.0/44.7/80.6 shooting splits as a team.
It was a disappointing defeat for Los Angeles, especially considering the Spurs were still without star Victor Wembanyama due to a calf injury.
Stephon Castle stepped up in Wembanyama's absence, scoring 30 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. Castle shot 10-of-14 from the field, including 3-of-6 from behind the arc.
The Spurs will now advance to the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas and face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday.
