Anthony Davis led the Los Angeles Lakers to a hard-fought 120-115 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night in the NBA Cup.
The Lakers improved to 8-4 on the season while opening defense of their Emirates NBA Cup title with a thrilling win.
Davis was dominant, finishing with 40 points and 12 rebounds, while LeBron James contributed a career-high fourth consecutive triple-double—15 points, 16 rebounds, and 12 assists. Davis shot 14-for-26 from the field, including two 3-pointers, marking his highest-scoring game of the season.
Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs’ rising star, put up an impressive 28 points and 14 rebounds, along with five assists and two blocks.
The 7-foot-4 phenom continues to show why he’s one of the most exciting young players in the league. His standout performance was a bright spot for the Spurs, who fell to 6-7.
The Spurs jumped to an early 11-0 lead, thanks to a highlight-reel alley-oop dunk from Wembanyama, assisted by 20-year-old Stephon Castle.
However, Davis took control in the first quarter, scoring 16 points and helping the Lakers close the period on a 21-8 run. This gave Los Angeles a 31-30 lead at the end of the first.
Castle, who had a solid game, finished with 22 points, while Devin Vassell chipped in 15 points for San Antonio. Despite the early lead, the Spurs couldn’t hold off the Lakers’ surge, especially with Davis’ powerful performance.
In a key moment late in the game, the Lakers led 116-115 when Chris Paul was called for an offensive foul. Paul attempted to set a screen for Wembanyama, but the turnover led to a crucial layup by James, pushing Los Angeles ahead 118-115 with just 25 seconds remaining.
The Lakers also dominated on second-chance points, securing a 15-6 advantage, including an 8-0 edge in the first quarter. This helped the Lakers sustain their momentum throughout the game.
For San Antonio, Chris Paul notched his 12,000th career assist in the loss, joining John Stockton and Jason Kidd as the only players to reach the milestone.
With the win, the Lakers maintained their hold on the Emirates NBA Cup and improved their record to 8-4, while the Spurs dropped to 6-7.
