NBA: Anthony Davis returns, helps Lakers defeat Spurs
FILE– Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers. Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP
LeBron James amassed 20 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds, Anthony Davis added 21 points and 12 rebounds in his return from a right foot injury and the Los Angeles Lakers earned a 113-104 victory over the visiting San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.
Rui Hachimura scored 12 points in his Lakers debut after he was acquired in a trade with the Washington Wizards on Monday. Davis played 26 minutes in just his sixth career game off the bench after missing the past 20 games.
James now has 38,230 career points, leaving him 157 away from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record.
AD splashes the 3 for his first bucket back 🗣️
WATCH: https://t.co/1pomQZN8Pi pic.twitter.com/X2J9pWDkjV
— NBA (@NBA) January 26, 2023
Keldon Johnson scored 25 points and Zach Johnson added 16 for the Spurs, who lost for the eighth time in their past nine games and the 11th time in their past 13.
Jeremy Sochan added 14 points for the Spurs, who were swept in a season series by the Lakers for the second time in the past four seasons.
In a back-and-forth game, the Spurs led by as many as 10 points in the first quarter before their advantage was cut to 54-53 at halftime. The Lakers led by as many as four points in both the first and third quarters.
Davis rolled his right ankle on a foul by Collins while shooting from beyond half court to beat the buzzer at the end of the third quarter. He made three free throws to bring Los Angeles within 82-81 heading into the final period and returned to open the fourth.
The Lakers took control approaching the midway point of the final quarter with an 11-0 run that was charged by three-consecutive 3-pointers from James, Dennis Schroder and Max Christie for a 99-89 lead with 7:20 remaining.
San Antonio never got closer than eight the rest of the way.
Patrick Beverley scored 18 points and Russell Westbrook had 14 for the Lakers, who went 4-4 over a stretch in which they played seven of eight games at home. Los Angeles now plays seven of its next nine on the road.
