It came down to the final play, but the Los Angeles Lakers held on for a 118-116 win over the San Antonio Spurs, erasing a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
Luka Dončić led the charge with 35 points, nine rebounds, and 13 assists, including eight points in the final period to spark the comeback.
The game ended in chaos when Marcus Smart stepped over the line while inbounding the ball with 0.1 seconds left. Julian Champagnie was fouled but missed his first free throw and intentionally missed the second, with Keldon Johnson failing to convert the putback attempt.
“To come back without (Austin Reaves) and (LeBron James), it’s unbelievable,” Dončić said. “They fight every moment of the game. It’s so fun to play with them.”
San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama (19 points, 8 rebounds), Jeremy Sochan (16 points), and Harrison Barnes (14 points) all fouled out.
The Lakers improved to 7-2, marking the best stretch by any team featuring LeBron James without him in the lineup.
“What a wild finish,” said commentator Mike Breen, while analyst Tim Legler added, “The Lakers dodged multiple bullets… but they ultimately get the win.”
