LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles Lakers failed a fourth quarter comeback attempt and lost 116-107 against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday, November 18.
Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard and center forward LaMarcus Aldrige scored 23 points apiece for the Spurs, who have now won five consecutive games. After a competitive match up, San Antonio’s coach Greg Popovich was complimentary of rookie coach Luke Walton and his young Lakers team.
“Luke has done a great job of making them believe and playing aggressively, and you can really see it,” said Popovich in a statement. “They came back and stuck it to us…We got after it and executed better, but I am just so impressed with what [Walton] has done with this young group.”
Former Laker and two-time NBA champion Pau Gasol added 16 points and five rebounds against the Lakers in his first game as a member of the Spurs. Gasol, a Barcelona native, signed a two-year contract with San Antonio this summer.
Lou Williams led all scorers with 24 points, in addition to grabbing three rebounds and three assists for the Lakers – who have now lost two of their last three games. Nick Young scored 22 points, including four 3-pointers and Jordan Clarkson added another 20 points off the bench. Julius Randle had 13 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Laker’s starting point guard D’Angelo Russel did not play in the game due to a sore left knee.
Los Angeles is now 7-6 overall and will continue a four-game home stand with a match up against all-star Dwayne Wade and the Chicago Bulls on Sunday, November 20.
