Lakers at the double

James, Davis the difference

LEBRON James and Anthony Davis picked up the pace when the Los Angeles Lakers needed them most, coming up big in the waning minutes of a 94- 92 NBA victory over the Grizzlies in Memphis on Tuesday.

James and Davis scored 26 points apiece as the reigning NBA champions escaped with a victory that kept them unbeaten in four road games this season and improved their record to 6- 2 overall.

James, who added 11 rebounds and seven assists, scored 21 of his points in the second half to make sure Los Angeles came out on the right side of the ledger on a night when both teams struggled with their shooting.

The Lakers trailed 79- 77 with 5: 18 remaining. Davis drained a three- pointer to put Los Angeles ahead and he and James took over.

A steal by Davis led to a James jumper and a block by Davis kept the momentum rolling as they combined for 15 straight Lakers points.

Each had a turnover in the closing span but Kyle Kuzma’s layup, off a feed from James, pushed a three- point lead to five with 3.5 seconds left and Devin Brooks’ three- pointer for the Grizzlies wasn’t enough.

“We were able to close the game out, get some timely stops and some timely buckets,” James said.

In Brooklyn, Kyrie Irving carried the load for the Nets in the absence of Kevin Durant, scoring 29 points on 12of- 19 shooting in a 130- 96 romp over Utah Jazz. Irving made his first nine shots as the Nets raced to a 21- point lead at the end of the first quarter.

San Antonio Spurs snapped a fourgame losing streak with a 116- 113 victory over the Clippers in Los Angeles.

Australian Patty Mills drained a career- high eight three- pointers as he led the Spurs with 27 points off the bench.

Dejounte Murray scored 21 points, Rudy Gay had 16 and LaMarcus Aldridge chipped in 14 for the Spurs, who tied a franchise record with 20 threepointers.

The Nuggets, fuelled by Nikola Jokic’s 35 points, beat Minnesota Timberwolves 123- 116 in Denver.