The Los Angeles Lakers dominated the San Antonio Spurs 123-92 on Sunday night to win three straight games this season, led by Anthony Davis, who registered 30 points and 18 rebounds.
Davis produced three consecutive 30-point games for the first time since March 2020, as LeBron James remains on the sidelines for his fourth straight game due to a left adductor strain, according to The Score.
The Lakers improved to 5-10, the best record in the Pacific Division, behind the play of Austin Reaves, who scored 17 of his season-high 21 points in the first half.
Kendrick Nunn finished the Lakers vs. Spurs game with 13 points on 4-8 shooting and 3-3 from 3-point range, making him a major contributor in the final frame.
The Spurs were unable to take advantage of the Lakers' sluggish play in the third quarter.
Lakers Looking To Continue Winning Streak on the Road
According to Anthony Davis, everyone on the team had "very high" confidence after winning three in a row. Now the challenge for them is to take their winning momentum on the road.
The Lakers finally felt at ease in the Lakers vs. Spurs, which hasn't been the case in many games over the past two seasons. This victory against the Spurs, a team the Lakers will face twice more at the end of the week, provided a huge boost in their competitive spirit during a crucial part of the season, according to a Silverscreen and Roll report.
The last time the Lakers won three straight games was in January of the previous NBA season. On Tuesday at 7 p.m. Pacific, they will visit the Phoenix Suns, aiming to extend their winning streak to four games.
Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich Praises LeBron James
Meanwhile, two iconic figures of the respective teams were not able to perform what they do best-LeBron James and Gregg Popovich. The head coach of the Spurs was sick and unable to make it to the game.
Popovich, at 73 years old, is the winningest coach in NBA history and has been the bench leader of the Spurs since 1996. In his absence, assistant coach Brett Brown ran the sideline during the Lakers vs. Spurs game.
Still, Gregg Popovich has praised LeBron James for his maturity in the face of harsh criticism, even though James did not play when their teams faced off, as per Yardbarker.
LeBron James, a four-time champ, has spent a lot of time in the NBA. He is officially in his 20th season as a professional basketball player. James has maintained his status as one of the league's best players throughout his career.
But despite his greatness, a sizable portion of basketball fans continues to criticize or outright despise James. According to Coach Pop, from James's point of view, it must have been challenging to face so much animosity over the years while maintaining a positive outlook.
Gregg Popovich, who won the Spurs five championships, has always spoken highly of James, praising his mental strength from the moment he entered the league. NBA insider Mark Medina tweeted the Spurs legend's praise for "King James."
Coach Popovich admitted that he used to get angry when people criticize LeBron James no matter what he did on the court.
"If he made a pass, somebody said, 'He should've shot it.' If he shot the ball, it was, 'He should've passed it.' That would really irritate me. They would just deal with the negative. In a sense, it was a false negative."
He underscored that the 37-year-old Lakers superstar "was an exemplary gentleman," who is admirable for maintaining his composure under intense pressure.
"All of us, we don't know what is to have that kind of attention and those kinds of demands. For something like him, I can't even fathom. It was super," Gregg Popovich remarked.
