Davis helps Lakers overcome James' absence, send Spurs to 18th straight loss
SAN ANTONIO (AP) Anthony Davis had 37 points and 10 rebound and the Los Angeles Lakers held off Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio 122-119 on Wednesday night, extending the Spurs’ franchise-record losing streak to 18.
Wembanyama had 30 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks for San Antonio, which has not won since Nov. 2. Wembanyama is the first rookie with 30 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks in a game since Spurs superstar Tim Duncan in 1998.
“I think it’s going to look better when we win,” Wembanyama said.
The Lakers were without LeBron James, with the four-time MVP sitting out the first of two straight games in San Antonio because of left calf injury. The teams will meet again Friday night.
The Lakers almost lost Davis, too, in the opening seconds when he rolled his left ankle following a spin move against Wembanyama. Davis refused to exit, even on the second night of a back-to-back for Los Angeles.
“Giving my team a chance to win,” Davis said. “I know when I’m on the floor playing, my team has a higher chance of winning than me being out because of my presence defensively and my presence offensively. We’re trying to win basketball games.”
The Spurs nearly took one away from the NBA In-Season Tournament champion Lakers. San Antonio outscored Los Angeles 45-30 in the final quarter.
After the Spurs trailed by 20 points early in the fourth quarter, Wembanyama’s 3-pointer over Davis cut the Lakers’ lead to 115-110 with 1:29 remaining. Wembanyama made one of two free throws to cut it to 117-116 with 22 seconds remaining.
“(Wembanyama) doesn’t stop competing,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “When the game was hanging in the balance, he made some big plays for them.”
Wembanyama fouled out for the first time in his career after sticking his leg out on a missed 3-pointer with 8.8 seconds remaining and the Lakers up 119-116.
“I don’t think it comes down to set play or tactics or nothing,” Wembanyama said. “I think it’s like playing hard and playing smart. In the first half, we had neither of those. At least if we’re not making shots or if we can’t get to the basket on offense, we need to get stops.”
Keldon Johnson added 28 points, and Malaki Branham had 16 for the Spurs.
Taurean Prince added 17 points to help the Lakers win for the fifth time in six games. Austin Reaves had 15 points, and D’Angelo Russell had 12 points and 10 assists.
“Once the momentum got on their side, it seemed like they rolled it to the very end,” Ham said. “But we hung in there. We gutted it out. Obviously, we are comfortable with the result, with the ‘W,’ but we’ve definitely got to get better at some things, and we will.”
Davis rolled his left ankle on the Lakers’ opening possession, writhing in pain on the baseline after missing an attempted layup against Wembanyama. The Lakers quickly called a timeout to check on Davis, who used the break to stretch and run to loosen up the injury.
Davis shot 10 for 15 from the field in scoring 24 points in the first half. His points included bullying Wembanyama out of position under the rim to clear space for a monstrous, one-handed dunk on the rookie with 3:57 remaining in the first half.
“We were sloppy and tried to do things quickly,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. “We did nothing the basketball gods would be happy about (in the first half). In the second half, they competed and executed to win. I’m glad about that. I want to see how it carries over to Friday.”
Wembanyama would get some payback in the final minute, spinning away from Davis under the rim for a one-handed slam. The No. 1 pick out of France had two blocks and two dunks in the final 45 seconds of the first half.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Anthony Davis vs. Victor Wembanyama (Keldon Johnson gains possession) | |||
11:41 | Malaki Branham turnover (bad pass) (Anthony Davis steals) | |||
11:30 | Anthony Davis misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
11:28 | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | |||
11:23 | +2 | Jeremy Sochan makes two point cutting dunk (Victor Wembanyama assists) | 0-2 | |
11:23 | Lakers 60 second timeout | |||
11:07 | D'Angelo Russell misses three point jump shot | |||
11:03 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
10:58 | +3 | Victor Wembanyama makes three point pullup jump shot | 0-5 | |
10:46 | +2 | Rui Hachimura makes two point pullup jump shot (Taurean Prince assists) | 2-5 | |
10:40 | Anthony Davis shooting foul (Victor Wembanyama draws the foul) | |||
10:40 | Victor Wembanyama misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
10:40 | Spurs offensive rebound | |||
10:40 | Victor Wembanyama misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
10:37 | Taurean Prince defensive rebound | |||
10:32 | +2 | Rui Hachimura makes two point running finger roll layup (D'Angelo Russell assists) | 4-5 | |
10:16 | Jeremy Sochan misses two point driving layup | |||
10:15 | Jeremy Sochan offensive rebound | |||
10:14 | Jeremy Sochan misses two point putback layup | |||
10:14 | Jeremy Sochan offensive rebound | |||
10:12 | Jeremy Sochan misses two point tip layup | |||
10:12 | Spurs offensive rebound | |||
10:09 | Jump ball. Victor Wembanyama vs. Anthony Davis (Keldon Johnson gains possession) | |||
9:58 | Victor Wembanyama misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
9:56 | D'Angelo Russell defensive rebound | |||
9:52 | +3 | Rui Hachimura makes three point running jump shot (D'Angelo Russell assists) | 7-5 | |
9:35 | +2 | Malaki Branham makes two point driving layup | 7-7 | |
9:35 | D'Angelo Russell shooting foul (Malaki Branham draws the foul) | |||
9:35 | +1 | Malaki Branham makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 7-8 | |
9:25 | Victor Wembanyama shooting foul (Anthony Davis draws the foul) | |||
9:25 | +1 | Anthony Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 8-8 | |
9:25 | +1 | Anthony Davis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 9-8 | |
9:10 | Victor Wembanyama misses two point jump shot | |||
9:08 | Taurean Prince defensive rebound | |||
9:02 | D'Angelo Russell misses three point jump shot | |||
8:58 | Taurean Prince offensive rebound | |||
8:52 | +2 | Anthony Davis makes two point layup (Taurean Prince assists) | 11-8 | |
8:39 | Devin Vassell turnover (bad pass) (Taurean Prince steals) | |||
8:35 | Taurean Prince turnover (bad pass) (Victor Wembanyama steals) | |||
8:30 | Victor Wembanyama turnover (bad pass) (D'Angelo Russell steals) | |||
8:26 | +2 | Anthony Davis makes two point running dunk (D'Angelo Russell assists) | 13-8 | |
8:26 | Spurs 60 second timeout | |||
8:12 | Jeremy Sochan misses three point jump shot | |||
8:08 | Taurean Prince defensive rebound | |||
7:59 | Cam Reddish misses three point jump shot | |||
7:56 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
7:37 | +3 | Jeremy Sochan makes three point jump shot (Devin Vassell assists) | 13-11 | |
7:20 | +2 | Anthony Davis makes two point layup (D'Angelo Russell assists) | 15-11 | |
6:56 | Malaki Branham misses two point jump shot | |||
6:54 | Rui Hachimura defensive rebound | |||
6:51 | Taurean Prince misses three point running jump shot | |||
6:46 | Devin Vassell defensive rebound | |||
6:39 | Victor Wembanyama misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
6:37 | Rui Hachimura defensive rebound | |||
6:30 | +2 | D'Angelo Russell makes two point driving reverse layup | 17-11 | |
6:12 | Tre Jones turnover (bad pass) (Jarred Vanderbilt steals) | |||
6:08 | +2 | Jarred Vanderbilt makes two point running layup | 19-11 | |
6:02 | +3 | Doug McDermott makes three point jump shot (Tre Jones assists) | 19-14 | |
5:47 | D'Angelo Russell misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
5:45 | Cedi Osman defensive rebound | |||
5:36 | Julian Champagnie misses three point jump shot | |||
5:33 | Jarred Vanderbilt defensive rebound | |||
5:26 | Anthony Davis misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
5:23 | Julian Champagnie defensive rebound | |||
5:16 | +2 | Cedi Osman makes two point driving layup | 19-16 | |
4:59 | Zach Collins shooting foul (Christian Wood draws the foul) | |||
4:59 | Christian Wood misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
4:59 | Lakers offensive rebound | |||
4:59 | Christian Wood misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
4:57 | Zach Collins defensive rebound | |||
4:47 | Doug McDermott misses three point jump shot | |||
4:44 | Anthony Davis defensive rebound | |||
4:34 | Anthony Davis turnover (bad pass) (Doug McDermott steals) | |||
4:25 | Zach Collins misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
4:21 | Christian Wood defensive rebound | |||
4:17 | +2 | Austin Reaves makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Christian Wood assists) | 21-16 | |
4:06 | Julian Champagnie misses three point jump shot | |||
4:02 | Austin Reaves defensive rebound | |||
3:52 | +2 | Anthony Davis makes two point layup (Austin Reaves assists) | 23-16 | |
3:37 | +3 | Zach Collins makes three point jump shot (Tre Jones assists) | 23-19 | |
3:20 | +3 | Anthony Davis makes three point jump shot (D'Angelo Russell assists) | 26-19 | |
3:00 | Cedi Osman misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
2:57 | Anthony Davis defensive rebound | |||
2:49 | D'Angelo Russell turnover (lost ball) (Julian Champagnie steals) | |||
2:43 | +2 | Tre Jones makes two point running finger roll layup (Julian Champagnie assists) | 26-21 | |
2:37 | D'Angelo Russell turnover (traveling) | |||
2:27 | +2 | Tre Jones makes two point driving reverse layup | 26-23 | |
1:58 | Austin Reaves misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
1:53 | Cedi Osman defensive rebound | |||
1:50 | Doug McDermott misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
1:48 | Max Christie defensive rebound | |||
1:43 | +2 | Christian Wood makes two point running dunk (Rui Hachimura assists) | 28-23 | |
1:25 | Tre Jones misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
1:22 | Anthony Davis defensive rebound | |||
1:11 | Zach Collins personal foul (Anthony Davis draws the foul) | |||
1:01 | +2 | Anthony Davis makes two point stepback jump shot | 30-23 | |
0:45 | +3 | Zach Collins makes three point jump shot (Doug McDermott assists) | 30-26 | |
0:38 | +2 | Rui Hachimura makes two point driving layup (Max Christie assists) | 32-26 | |
0:33 | Cedi Osman misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
0:33 | Christian Wood defensive rebound | |||
0:12 | Rui Hachimura misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
0:12 | Austin Reaves offensive rebound | |||
0:02 | +2 | Austin Reaves makes two point turnaround fadeaway bank jump shot | 34-26 | |
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:45 | +2 | Jaxson Hayes makes two point floating jump shot (Austin Reaves assists) | 36-26 | |
11:31 | Victor Wembanyama turnover (bad pass) (Cam Reddish steals) | |||
11:24 | +2 | Cam Reddish makes two point running dunk | 38-26 | |
11:12 | Rui Hachimura blocks Doug McDermott's two point reverse layup | |||
11:08 | Austin Reaves defensive rebound | |||
11:05 | Victor Wembanyama blocks Austin Reaves's two point running finger roll layup | |||
11:02 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
10:52 | Devin Vassell misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
10:50 | Rui Hachimura defensive rebound | |||
10:41 | Max Christie misses three point jump shot | |||
10:37 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
10:30 | Victor Wembanyama misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
10:26 | Max Christie defensive rebound | |||
10:19 | Rui Hachimura offensive foul (Tre Jones draws the foul) | |||
10:19 | Rui Hachimura turnover (offensive foul) | |||
10:02 | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point driving bank hook shot (Jeremy Sochan assists) | 38-28 | |
9:52 | +3 | Austin Reaves makes three point jump shot (Max Christie assists) | 41-28 | |
9:39 | Jeremy Sochan misses two point jump shot | |||
9:37 | Jaxson Hayes defensive rebound | |||
9:35 | Keldon Johnson personal foul (Jaxson Hayes draws the foul) | |||
9:27 | +3 | Taurean Prince makes three point pullup jump shot (Austin Reaves assists) | 44-28 | |
9:14 | Victor Wembanyama misses three point jump shot | |||
9:14 | Max Christie defensive rebound | |||
9:05 | Max Christie turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
8:46 | +3 | Malaki Branham makes three point jump shot (Keldon Johnson assists) | 44-31 | |
8:36 | Jaxson Hayes offensive foul (Keldon Johnson draws the foul) | |||
8:36 | Jaxson Hayes turnover (offensive foul) | |||
8:21 | Malaki Branham misses three point jump shot | |||
8:16 | Rui Hachimura defensive rebound | |||
8:12 | +2 | Rui Hachimura makes two point running finger roll layup | 46-31 | |
8:12 | Victor Wembanyama defensive goaltending violation | |||
7:55 | Victor Wembanyama misses two point jump shot | |||
7:51 | Max Christie defensive rebound | |||
7:37 | Rui Hachimura misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
7:35 | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | |||
7:30 | Devin Vassell misses three point running jump shot | |||
7:24 | Max Christie defensive rebound | |||
7:10 | Taurean Prince turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
6:54 | +2 | Devin Vassell makes two point driving finger roll layup (Jeremy Sochan assists) | 46-33 | |
6:39 | Taurean Prince misses three point jump shot | |||
6:34 | Devin Vassell defensive rebound | |||
6:27 | Zach Collins misses two point jump shot | |||
6:23 | Rui Hachimura defensive rebound | |||
6:20 | Lakers 60 second timeout | |||
6:14 | +2 | Taurean Prince makes two point cutting finger roll layup (D'Angelo Russell assists) | 48-33 | |
6:11 | Spurs 60 second timeout | |||
5:55 | Cam Reddish blocks Zach Collins's two point layup | |||
5:52 | Jeremy Sochan offensive rebound | |||
5:47 | Jeremy Sochan misses three point jump shot | |||
5:45 | Jarred Vanderbilt defensive rebound | |||
5:20 | Cam Reddish misses two point driving hook shot | |||
5:17 | Malaki Branham defensive rebound | |||
5:05 | Taurean Prince shooting foul (Keldon Johnson draws the foul) | |||
5:05 | +1 | Keldon Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 48-34 | |
5:05 | +1 | Keldon Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 48-35 | |
4:59 | Zach Collins personal foul (Anthony Davis draws the foul) | |||
4:52 | +3 | Anthony Davis makes three point pullup jump shot (Cam Reddish assists) | 51-35 | |
4:40 | Jeremy Sochan turnover (bad pass) (D'Angelo Russell steals) | |||
4:35 | D'Angelo Russell misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
4:31 | Tre Jones defensive rebound | |||
4:29 | D'Angelo Russell personal foul (Keldon Johnson draws the foul) | |||
4:19 | +3 | Keldon Johnson makes three point jump shot (Jeremy Sochan assists) | 51-38 | |
3:57 | +2 | Anthony Davis makes two point driving dunk | 53-38 | |
3:52 | Jeremy Sochan offensive foul (Charge) (Taurean Prince draws the foul) | |||
3:52 | Jeremy Sochan turnover (offensive foul) | |||
3:41 | +3 | Taurean Prince makes three point jump shot (Cam Reddish assists) | 56-38 | |
3:23 | +3 | Victor Wembanyama makes three point jump shot (Tre Jones assists) | 56-41 | |
3:14 | +3 | Cam Reddish makes three point jump shot (D'Angelo Russell assists) | 59-41 | |
3:01 | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point pullup bank jump shot | 59-43 | |
2:50 | +2 | Anthony Davis makes two point pullup jump shot (Taurean Prince assists) | 61-43 | |
2:33 | Keldon Johnson misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
2:33 | Victor Wembanyama offensive rebound | |||
2:33 | Victor Wembanyama misses two point tip layup | |||
2:33 | Spurs offensive rebound | |||
2:30 | Anthony Davis personal foul (Victor Wembanyama draws the foul) | |||
2:19 | +3 | Keldon Johnson makes three point jump shot (Victor Wembanyama assists) | 61-46 | |
2:03 | Austin Reaves misses three point jump shot | |||
1:59 | Spurs defensive rebound | |||
1:48 |