Kyle Kuzma and the Los Angeles Lakers easily could have
surrendered to fatigue on the second night of a back-to-back late in the season
against a team fighting for playoff positioning.
Instead Cheap
Bo Scarbrough Jersey , the Lakers found the resolve to end a
three-game losing streak.
Kuzma scored six of his 30 points in overtime and the Lakers swept the
three-game season series against the San Antonio Spurs with a 122-112 victory on
Wednesday night.
Kuzma, who became first rookie in NBA history with 1,200 points, 450 rebounds
and 150 3-pointers in a season, made a 3-pointer and a sky hook to start
overtime and give the Lakers a lead they would not relinquish. Los Angeles
outscored the Spurs 14-4 in the period.
¡±Tonight I could tell he wasn¡¯t going to ask to come out of that game. He was
going to fight through it,¡± Lakers coach Luke Walton said. ¡±Kuz, it¡¯s fun
watching him compete at that level when he gets in that zone.¡±
LaMarcus Aldridge had 28 points for the Spurs, who lost on back-to-back
nights at Staples Center and are tied with Oklahoma City for fifth place in the
Western Conference Adidas
Taylor Hall Jersey , a half-game behind Utah. The Spurs and Thunder
both have three games remaining.
¡±It¡¯s unreal, but it can happen,¡± said Pau Gasol, who had 11 points and 12
rebounds. ¡±Those guys played with no fear. They have the green light to get them
up, they made a lot of tough shots, and it hurt us.¡±
Dejounte Murray had 23 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, and Patty Mills
scored 15 points Kenny Young
Jersey Ravens , but the Spurs lost their seventh straight on the
road.
Josh Hart had a chance to win it in regulation for the Lakers, but his layup
hit the back of the rim and went off the front as time expired.
The Lakers swept the Spurs for the first time since 1997-98, relying on their
second unit to fight back from an eight-point deficit in the third quarter.
Channing Frye scored 19 points off the bench, and Tyler Ennis added 10 points
and seven assists.
Walton was pleased with the sweep, but downplayed the idea it represented a
significant achievement for a young team.
¡±To beat them multiple times in a season for a young team that¡¯s kind of
finding themselves is a nice accomplishment, but they are most likely still
going to the playoffs this year and we¡¯re not,¡± Walton said.
TIP-INS
Spurs: Rudy Gay had 14 points off the bench. ¡ Manu Ginobili (rest) did not
play. ¡ San Antonio was outscored 21-9 in fast-break points, including an 11-2
disparity in the first quarter. ¡ The Spurs¡¯ magic number to clinch their 21st
consecutive playoff berth remains two.
Lakers: G Lonzo Ball missed his fourth consecutive game because of a left
knee contusion. ¡ F Brandon Ingram remains in concussion protocol and missed his
third straight game. ¡ The Lakers set a single-season franchise record with 782
3-pointers Authentic
Leighton Vander Esch Jersey , breaking the previous mark of 774 in
2013-14. ¡ The Lakers wore their Minneapolis throwback uniforms.
ALMOST PERFECT
Frye was 8 of 9 from the field, but his only miss had his teammates and
Walton laughing at the veteran¡¯s expense after whiffing on an uncontested dunk
at the start of the fourth quarter.
¡±It was funny because after that he made that 3 that hit the top of the
backboard and fell in. I turned to him and said, ¡®Stick to that,¡±¡¯ Hart
said.
DEFENSIVE SWITCH
Aldridge had 14 points in the first half and 12 more in the third quarter
before Walton decided to start double-teaming him. The adjustment worked,
forcing Aldridge to become a facilitator.
¡±He does what he¡¯s supposed to do, get rid of the ball, and now it¡¯s up to
the rest of the players to attack and make plays,¡± Gasol said.
UP NEXT
Spurs: Host the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday.
Lakers: Host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.
¡ª
Cleveland Browns safety Damarious Randall better hope LeBron James'
postseason excellence is over.
Randall promised on Twitter that if James and the Cavaliers upset the Golden
State Warriors in the NBA Finals he would buy a jersey for anyone who re-tweeted
his post. As of Tuesday afternoon Authentic
Jaire Alexander Jersey , there were 334,000 re-tweets on Randall's
account (@RandallTime).
Randall was acquired by the Browns in March in a trade from Green Bay. He has
posted numerous tweets in the past backing the Warriors. He responded to one
skeptic by saying he would "100 percent" deliver on his pledge.
Playing for one of Cleveland's teams, however, and openly rooting against
another isn't a wise move. Also, Randall's boast could prove expensive, but the
25-year-old did not specify which jersey he'd purchase.
Randall intends to be courtside at Games 3 and 4 when series comes to
Cleveland. Game 1 is Thursday night at Golden State.
.