DeRozan's 36 points fuels Spurs past Lakers
SAN ANTONIO (AP) DeMar DeRozan finished with 36 points and nine assists and the San Antonio Spurs had eight players score in double figures in a 133-120 come-from-behind victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
LeBron James finished with 35 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds for Los Angeles.
San Antonio got 14 points each from Patty Mills and Jakob Poeltl off the bench, and Davis Bertans added 13 points. The Spurs' bench outscored the Lakers' 52-26 in winning the season series 3-1.
Kyle Kuzma added 27 points and Lonzo Ball had 13 points and 11 assists for the Lakers.
Los Angeles led by as many as 15 points but was outscored 32-13 early in the fourth quarter and fell behind 121-114.
DeRozan had 11 points in the fourth quarter and San Antonio was 4 for 7 from beyond the arc in its comeback.
The Spurs opened the fourth quarter on an 18-6 run and pulled within 108-107 with 7:43 remaining. Mills punctuated the run with a layup after drawing a foul on James near the Spurs' bench that led to his teammates encircling and celebrating with him on the sidelines.
James scored the game's opening basket on a fadeaway jumper on Dante Cunningham and then assisted on the Lakers' next two field goals as they raced to a 9-2 lead.
Los Angeles hit three straight 3-pointers in extending their biggest lead to 15 points at 69-54 with 3 1/2 minutes left in the first half. Los Angeles build the 15-point lead with defense and hustle as JaVale McGee and James teamed up to stuff Rudy Gay at the rim and McGee tapped a missed shot back for a 3-pointer by James.
TIP-INS
Lakers: James was listed as rookie in the game notes. . Rajon Rondo missed his 10th straight game following right hand surgery, but is nearing a return. Rondo worked out on the court prior to the game with teammates Isaac Bonga, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and Ivica Zubac.
Spurs: Belinelli became the first player in league history with at least 50 3-pointers for nine different teams. . Pau Gasol, who missed his 17th straight game with left foot soreness, was walking without a boot. There is not timetable for his return. . Bertans has made 200 career 3-pointers.
UP NEXT
Lakers: At Memphis on Saturday night.
Spurs: Host Utah on Sunday night.
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