Anthony Davis and LeBron James brought showtime deep in the heart of Texas.
Davis exploded for a season-high 40 points, James posted another triple-double, and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio Spurs, 120-115, for their first Emirates NBA Cup win in West Group B play.
The Lakers grab their 1st NBA Cup win this season in a tight one over the Spurs 😤
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 16, 2024
Anthony Davis:
40 points
12 rebounds
14-of-26 FG
LeBron James:
15 points
16 rebounds
12 assists
It was Davis’ first 40-point game of the season alongside grabbing 12 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season.
35 for AD!
— NBA (@NBA) November 16, 2024
1-point game with 4 minutes left
🏆 West Group C action
🏀 LAL-SAS on ESPN
James also posted his fourth straight triple-double and fifth overall after dropping 15 points, 16 rebounds, and 12 assists.
It was the first time in his storied career that the 39-year-old James had four straight games with a triple-double outing.
10th time for LeBron... 4 straight triple-doubles! 🤯 #EmiratesNBACup
— NBA (@NBA) November 16, 2024
Austin Reaves chipped in 19 points while Dalton Knecht added 14 for the Lakers, who now improved to 8-4 following the clutch win.
With the Spurs leading 113-111, Reaves nailed a clutch three to put the Lakers ahead, 114-113 with under two minutes left.
Reaves 3 for the lead.
— NBA (@NBA) November 16, 2024
Castle lay for the lead.
AD slam for 40 to put LA up for good!
An #EmiratesNBACup THRILLER. https://t.co/3OYDktlYMA
After a Stephon Castle bucket, Davis responded with a strong slam to bring the lead in favor of LA before James scored his first bucket since the third frame with a clutch drive, 118-115 with 25 seconds left.
MAKE THAT 38 FOR AD!
— NBA (@NBA) November 16, 2024
111-109 with under 4 minutes left.#EmiratesNBACup on ESPN https://t.co/VQ51mrHyCt
"It's not a matter of if LeBron James will show up... it's a matter of when."
— NBA (@NBA) November 16, 2024
LeBron seals the deal to open up the Lakers #EmiratesNBACup title defense with a W!
The Spurs had a chance to tie the game but Castle’s three point missed badly as James iced the game with two clutch free throws.
LA overcame a flat start to and led by as many as 10 points in the opening half for a 68-60 halftime lead.
Davis did the bulk of the offensive work early with 26 markers, becoming the first Laker since Shaquille O’Neal (1998-99) to start a season with 11 straight 20-point games.
"The wingspan is eternal."
— NBA (@NBA) November 16, 2024
What's more impressive... this board or the logo 3?
🏆 West Group C action
🏀 ESPN
Castle added 22 more while Chris Paul finished with an 11-point, 11assist double-double on the night he became just the third player in NBA history to surpass 12,000 career assists.
Chris Paul becomes the 3RD PLAYER EVER with 12,000 assists!
— NBA (@NBA) November 16, 2024
And he does it on a lob to Wemby 😍
Wemby scored seven of the Spurs first nine points as San Antonio built an early 25-16 lead.
But the Lakers regained their footing and ended the opening frame on a strong 15-4 run, with Anthony Davis’ 16-point outburst paving the way for a 31-30 cushion.
The Lakers will continue their NBA Cup campaign against the Utah Jazz while the Spurs face another tough test in the OKC Thunder.
