Spurs hold off Lakers
LOS ANGELES -- LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points each to lead seven San Antonio players in double figures, and the Spurs held off the Los Angeles Lakers 116-107 on Friday night at Staples Center.
Leonard also collected 11 rebounds and seven assists for the Spurs (10-3), who posted their fifth consecutive win. Pau Gasol and Tony Parker contributed 16 points apiece. Parker dished out seven assists.
Lou Williams scored 24 points to lead the Lakers (7-6), who have lost six straight to the Spurs. Nick Young added 22 points, while Jordan Clarkson chipped in 20. Young's streak of converting 35 straight free throws, dating back to last season, ended with a miss in the first quarter. Young made 25 in a row this season.
Julius Randle had 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for Los Angeles.
Lakers point guard D'Angelo Russell sat out the game with a sore left knee.
The Lakers rallied from a double-digit lead to cut the Spurs' margin to 104-98 after a 3-pointer by Clarkson with 5:20 left in the contest. But two foul shots and a 3-point bucket by Leonard increased the deficit to 11.
Consecutive treys by Young and Clarkson pulled the Lakers within 109-104 with 1:43 remaining. Randle's two free throws reduced the Spurs' edge to four 20 seconds later, but Los Angeles failed to score again.
The Lakers outscored the Spurs 36-26 in the second quarter to force a tie at 52 at the break. The Lakers were able to stay even despite being outshot by the Spurs 55.3 percent to 43.2 percent in the first half.
Overall, the Spurs hit 56.4 percent of their shots to 44.8 percent for the Lakers.
In the third, the Lakers scored the first five points of the quarter to go up 57-52, but the Spurs answered with a 28-9 spurt for an 80-66 advantage after a Leonard jumper with 4:17 left in the period.
San Antonio led 91-76 heading into the fourth quarter.
The win lifted Spurs coach Gregg Popovich pass Larry Brown for seventh on the all-time wins list at 1,099.
NOTES: Spurs coach Gregg Popovich says he speaks with retired F Tim Duncan almost daily. Popovich said Duncan sometimes attends practices and encourages some of the younger players. Although Popovich doubts Duncan will work for the club full-time as an assistant coach, Duncan will occasionally perform scouting duties. ... Los Angeles coach Luke Walton and San Antonio F/C Pau Gasol were teammates on the 2009 and 2010 Lakers' championship teams. Walton and Gasol were also the team's best ping-pong players, according to Walton. ... Walton said PG D'Angelo Russell has been experiencing pain in his left knee for several games. ... Spurs backup C Dewayne Dedmon missed his second game with a sprained left knee. ... The Spurs return home to face the Dallas Mavericks on Monday. ... The Lakers host the Chicago Bulls on Sunday.