The dance music blared as the crowd took turns roaring their way through quarter time time, Lakers coach JJ Redick frustrated after another clean look for the Spurs allowed them to get within a point.
To that point, the game delivered.
With the NBA Cup raising the stakes, Anthony Davis and Victor Wembanyama dueled The teams traded, and blew, double-digit leads. And when LMFAO turned it up to 11 midway through the fourth, the NBA had exactly what it wanted — a November basketball game that felt like it mattered.
The crowd was buzzing with each possession, Wembanyama dunk off a lob getting a roar on one end. clutch Davis triple on the other leading to a collective groan.
It went like this, deep into the final minute, where the Lakers made the biggest plays in the final seconds of 120-115 to win
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Davis, who scored 40 points, worked off the block with Wembanyama on his hip and the shot clock running down, only to find a cut. LeBron James for a deposit that helped ice the victory.
Six different Lakers scored in double figures, with James emphatically clapping his hands and Davis keeping the ball in the air at the final horn.
On a night where he moved into a tie for the fifth-most regular-season NBA games ever played, James found a way to do the unbelievable.
In his 22nd NBA season, James figured out a way to do something for the first time.
Following triple doubles in the victories of the Lakers Philadelphia, Toronto and MemphisJames did it again Friday in San Antonio.
He finished with 15 points, 16 rebounds and 12 assists. The Lakers won each of those four games.
The Lakers did not have starting forward Rui Hachimura, who missed the game with a sprained ankle. The Lakers started rookie Dalton Knecht instead.
Their bench, which has been one of the team’s clearest weaknesses this season, had its best game yet. Max Christie, back in the rotation with Hachimura out, scored a season-high 11 points. Gabe Vincent, who has been on fire to start the season, had six points and three steals.
The team plays again Saturday night in New Orleans.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
