NBA: Spurs’ balanced attack overcomes Luka Doncic’s individual effort in win over Lakers

Keldon Johnson scored 27 points as San Antonio’s balanced team effort overcame Luka Doncic’s individual brilliance, leading the Spurs to a 107-91 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. The game marked the second night of a back-to-back for both teams.

San Antonio led by five points at halftime and extended the margin to 12 with just under four minutes left in the third quarter. Los Angeles never got closer than seven points the rest of the way, with the Spurs effectively sealing the win when Stephon Castle drove for a layup with 4:14 remaining, pushing the lead to 14 points.

Victor Wembanyama, coming off the bench for the second straight game, contributed 16 points, 14 rebounds, and four blocked shots in 26 minutes for San Antonio. Castle added 15 points, De'Aaron Fox had 14, and Julian Champagnie chipped in 11 points.

For Los Angeles, Doncic recorded a triple-double with 38 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, though he also committed seven turnovers. Jake LaRavia scored 16 points, and Jaxson Hayes added 10. The Lakers played without LeBron James, who was rested for the second game of the back-to-back.

The game started tight, with Johnson’s layup giving the Spurs a 26-23 lead at the end of the first quarter. Early in the second quarter, Carter Bryant hit a 3-pointer to push the Spurs’ lead to seven points. Los Angeles responded with an 11-0 run, capped by a Deandre Ayton layup, taking a 34-30 advantage with 7:11 remaining in the half.

San Antonio regained control before halftime, matching its biggest lead of the period when Johnson made a 3-pointer with 51.9 seconds left. Doncic’s finger-roll layup 18 seconds later closed the first half scoring, leaving the Lakers down 48-43 at the break.

Doncic carried much of Los Angeles’ offense in the first half, scoring 22 points along with six rebounds and seven assists, outscoring the rest of his teammates combined by one point. Johnson led the Spurs with 14 points at halftime.

In the third quarter, Jarred Vanderbilt’s layup briefly trimmed San Antonio’s lead to 56-54, but the Spurs pulled away again. Johnson’s 3-pointer with 3:38 left in the period extended the lead to 71-59, setting the tone for the final quarter.

--Field Level Media/Reuters