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LeBron and Anthony Davis speed up

This season’s calendar is full of little mental challenges. Or not so small. One of them play games in a row against the same opponent, something that (as long as they are not playoffs) is an invitation to relax for the one who comes from winning and an opportunity to express rematch for the one who just lost. In that sense, the Lakers got rid of the Spurs (103-109) in a back to back from which they come out with two San Antonio wins (4-2 total now) and they face another (Sunday-Tuesday) against Memphis Grizzlies before playing, again (but this in the Staples), against the Spurs. This is the season of the pandemic …

After a comfortable first win, at Becky Hammon’s party and LeBron James’s birthday, the Lakers lowered the piston, but they won. Partly because the Spurs are a team that already has very little left over, nothing if the loss of LaMarcus Aldridge is added. The Texans tried it, came back in the third quarter to get ahead (85-81) and sent in the fourth until 103-100 with 2:34 left. But they didn’t score anymore. The Lakers closed the game with a 0-9 in which a trace of their excellent defense appeared (which has been little seen in this season start) and escaped with a triple by Anthony Davis and baskets by Kuzma and LeBron James. The final stretch was worth the champion, who started weak at the back but scoring easily to avoid dangerous disadvantages.

Davis, who is one of those who has taken the start of the season more calmly, especially in defense, has shone in the passage through San Antonio: this time, 34 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 4/6 in triples. LeBron James signed a triple-double (26 + 11 + 10) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was scared by an ankle injury that eventually resulted in a minor sprain. Kuzma added 11 points and Dennis Schröder, brilliant in attack and defense in his first games with the Lakers, 15. Marc Gasol did not score, the last of his duties in this team, but he was active (from more to less) in everything else: 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks. The Lakers closed the game with a sprint final that the Spanish saw from the bench, already with Davis as five. For the Spurs (2-3 after these two losses) DeMar DeRozan added 23 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists and Keldon Johnson, 26 and 10 rebounds. Rudy Gay, Patty Mills, Derrick White contributed from the bench … but it was not enough, something that will be usual for Popovich’s team when the great ocean liners of the League appear in front of them, let alone the champion.

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