Los Angeles, CA – The Los Angeles Lakers beat the San Antonio Spurs in a back-and-forth game. With the win over the Spurs, the victory now extends the Lakers winning streak to five straight games.
Adding another impressive win by the Lakers so far early in the season. Especially with the Lakers dealing with so many injuries very early this season.
In the highly anticipated matchup against the Spurs definitely presented a challenge for the Lakers. Obviously defending the Spurs best player and rising NBA superstar Victor Wembanyama was a key factor in the game.
Luka Doncic of the Lakers also made his return after missing the previous game against the Portland Trailblazers.
With the Lakers rotation being depleted by injuries, Doncic led the way for the Lakers in the first half. Austin Reaves being out allowed Doncic to dominate the ball and control the offense fully.
“Without Austin without Lebron, his teammates are looking to him to keep that resolve and positive disposition and he was great.” said head coach JJ Reddick.
Almost posting a triple double in the first half, Doncic finished with a total 22 points, six assists, and seven rebounds. Complete offensive control and even adding several steals. The Spurs would not go down easy, however.
The Spurs made it a very competitive game, as the Lakers only led by one point going into the half. Doing so with limited production from Wembanyama. Wembanyama struggled in foul trouble the entire game.
While he was in the game the Lakers sent double teams and really pressured the ball whenever Wembanyama touched the ball. The Lakers did whatever they could to make it hard for him to score. Other Spurs players stepped up in a big way to make it a game.
Due to the injuries for the Lakers, the rotation was very short. The Spurs are a very good defensive unit, so it required the Lakers role players to step up. Marcus Smart, Jake Laravia, and Deandre Ayton all played a huge role in the win.
Doncic led the way as superstars do, but Smart and Laravia’s hustle have been critical. Ayton’s presence inside and on the glass has been exactly what the Lakers envisioned what he can provide when he was acquired this summer.
Without the Lakers role players stepping up against the Spurs, they do not win. They don’t even reach five straight wins without the efforts of the Laker role players to overcome early season adversity.
“Our ability to figure it out. The next guy up mentality we have a lot of guys that can go and when their time comes they have to make the best of it and have been.” said Smart.
Defeating one of the younger and better teams in Western Conference so far is definitely an impressive win. Being so shorthanded early in the season and managing these games to find ways to a win has the Lakers looking good.
An early five game win streak can lead to a foundation to look back on to build upon once the team slowly gets healthier.
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