DeRozan helps Spurs edge Lakers, Jazz win
Los Angeles, Oct. 28: DeMar DeRozan finished with 30 points and 12 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs overcame a 35- point performance from LeBron James to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 110- 106 on Saturday.
DeRozan nailed a clutch fadeaway jumper with 16 seconds remaining to help secure the Spurs’ second victory over the Lakers in a week.
DeRozan also had eight assists while Rudy Gay scored 16 points and LaMarcus Aldridge had 15 for the Spurs, who improved to 3- 2 on the season.
Kyle Kuzma finished with 15 points and Lance Stephenson added 14 points in the loss.
The Lakers shot 53 percent in the first half and led by as many as 14 points.
“The team is going to grow and get better,” said James, who also had 11 rebounds. “We are going to use these experiences for the better.
“I think we played very, very well besides that four or five minutes in third quarter where we offensively stalled.”
James extended his career points total to 31,202 to pass Dirk Nowitzki for sixth place on the NBA all- time scoring list.
The Spurs seized their first lead of the contest at 93- 91 early in the fourth quarter, then extended it to eight points before James answered with a couple of baskets and an assist to cut it to just one, 106- 105.
Elsewhere, Rudy Gobert and Ricky Rubio paced the attack as the Utah Jazz handed the short- handed New Orleans Pelicans their first loss of the season with a 132- 111 win.
Pelicans star Anthony Davis was missing from the offence because of a strained right elbow.
Gobert, of France, finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds and Spain’s Rubio had 28 points and 12 assists for the Jazz, who beat the Pelicans three out of four times last season.
“When Ricky plays like that, it’s hard to lose,” said Gobert.
“We’ve got a lot of guys that can score and when Ricky starts to make the right play and puts even more pressure on the defence, it’s hard to guard for sure.”