Lakers Mount Last Second Comeback To Shock Spurs
SteemSports Presenter:@mateonav53
SteemSports Editor:@scottybuckets
The Lakers gutted out a heart-racing comeback win against the Spurs in San Antonio 116-112. LaMarcus Aldridge was out for the Spurs with an ankle injury. Brandon Ingram sat this game out for LA because he strained his left hip flexor at the end of the Miami Heat game. The Lakers are on their first 5-game win streak of the season after this contest.
The Lakers have tried going through Brook Lopez to start games off but this time they went through Randle. Unfortunately for the Lakers, Randle wasn't hitting his shots. Greg Popovich recognized that Julius has been hot so he employed smart double teams on him, which made his attempts more difficult. When Julius did find an opening he beelined for the rim for a dunk, but he got fouled and it unsatisfingly bounced off the back rim. The Spurs were making it their game by controlling the pace and capitalizing off LA's poor shooting. The Lakeshow played like hot dookie but somehow they were only down by seven with the score 23-30 at the first buzz.
The Lakers picked up their shooting to start the second but they couldn't help but turn the ball over every other time they touched it. The Spurs were focused and stuck to their ball movement guns, maintaining a 4-8 point lead. Thanks to an improved defensive and rebounding effort, the Lakers struck back and lowered the Spurs lead to two with five remaining in the half. The Spurs opened it back up to a ten-point lead with a minute to go. Kyle Kuzma was supposed to step up in Brandon Ingram's absence, but he couldn't get anything going except a three on the last Laker possession. The Spurs Way was in full effect as both teams walked to their respective locker rooms with the score at 60-53. Julius Randle (15 pts, 5 rebs) and Isaiah Thomas (13 points, 3 assists) led the charge for the Lakers while just about every Spur in uniform was pitching in for their lead.
More turnovers and bricks ensued for Los Angeles at the start of the third. Former Lake Pau Gasol ran the offense for the Spurs and guided them to a 13 point lead, forcing their opponents to take a timeout. Their bench was on fire. They scored 34 compared to 13 for the Lakers (all by Isaiah Thomas) with half the time remaining in the third. The Spurs were prospering off the Lakers lack of rim protection whenever Julius sat. Even with Randle on the floor, they were still getting buckets up close. Kentavius Caldwell Pope stepped it up big by grabbing rebounds and hitting shots for the Lakers. He was a large reason the Spurs didn't break this game wide open. There was still a mountain to climb and they were still down 80-91 at the end of the third. The young Lakers kept getting in foul trouble which prevented them from going on an extended run.
The story was the same in the first half of the fourth quarter. The Lakers tried going on runs but the Spurs kept the lead around 10. They continued moving the ball until somebody got the best shot, and they ran that to the tune of six Spurs in double figures halfway through. One of the Lakers G-League players, Travis Weir, came in for the shorthanded Lakeshow and sunk three clutch jumpers for them. The Lakers had a chance to tie the game but KCP threw up an awful turnaround air-ball and Tony Parker took it to the hole at the other end with 2:45 remaining.
A couple possessions later the tables completely turned. Julius Randle gave the Lakers the lead with two free throws 106-105. All of the sudden Lonzo Ball put the Lakers up by two with a three-pointer! Pau tied it with two free throws, and then Lonzo took it to the other end and drained another three in the collective face of the Spurs. Who the hell was this sharpshooting Lonzo Ball we were witnessing?! The Spurs had the rock coming out of the timeout, and KCP picked their pocket with a clutch steal. Lonzo Ball drove toward the hoop and kicked it to Julius who muscled out a crucial bucket inside. The Spurs came right back with a quick three by Rudy Gay, it wasn't over yet 114-112 Laker lead. It was all up to Isaiah Thomas to put the game out of reach with two free throws and he sunk them to ice an unbelievable comeback to the surging Lakers.
San Antonio was short-handed tonight, but they really looked like they had it under control until the last couple minutes. All of their players were moving the ball, scoring, and defending but they just let it slip at the end. The Spurs have had an incredible streak of winning 50+ games in 19 straight seasons, something that may arguably never be beaten. With 19 games left in the season though it's hard to imagine they'll win 14 of 19 to continue the streak, especially if Kawhi Leonard is questionable to return this season. Everybody knows though, never underestimate San Antonio in the playoffs. They'll have a chance to regroup against the Memphis Grizzlies at home on Monday
The Lakers seemed down and out halfway through the fourth but they really showed they have no quit in them. All of the starters were in upper double figures except Kyle Kuzma, who had a rough game with only 11 points. Julius Randle (25 points) and Isaiah Thomas (21 points) scored the most for the Lakers just like in Miami, but they couldn't have done it without the cohesive play of their teammates. Lonzo Ball threw a big figurative middle finger at his doubters tonight with those two clutch three-pointers at the end, against none other than the San Antonio Spurs. LA's spirits are high as they go back home to face the Portland Trailblazers on Monday.
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