NBA roundup: Davis and James shine in Lakers' victory, Cavaliers extend win streak
Anthony Davis recorded 40 points, while LeBron James further etched his name in history, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 120-115 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday, as they commenced their campaign to defend the NBA Cup.
In a remarkable achievement, James notched a triple-double for the fourth consecutive game, a first in his 22-season NBA career. The 39-year-old superstar contributed 15 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists in a game-high 38 minutes of play.
"I have a deep passion for the game, and I am grateful to still be able to contribute to our team's success," James remarked.
With this performance, James matched the Lakers' record for consecutive triple-doubles and became the oldest player in NBA history to achieve four consecutive triple-doubles, all in victories, despite the setback of seven turnovers.
"I am simply putting in the effort. My teammates have confidence in me with the ball," James stated.
"Perhaps they relied on me a bit too much tonight with those seven turnovers. I need to improve significantly if I am to handle the ball more. I will address that."
Davis, who also secured 12 rebounds, outperformed last season's NBA Rookie of the Year, Victor Wembanyama, who led the Spurs with 28 points and 14 rebounds in this Western Group B matchup.
"AD had another outstanding game," James commented. "We depend on him every night. He is not only our primary option but also our secondary one... He has truly been exceptional this season."
After Stefon Castle's basket put the Spurs ahead 115-114, Davis executed a slam dunk with 91 seconds remaining, followed by a layup from James, marking his first score in over 20 minutes.
Castle's attempt to tie the game with a three-pointer was unsuccessful, and James sealed the victory with two free throws.
In a late-game incident, Davis collided with Wembanyama, injuring his right knee against Wembanyama's left knee, but both players continued to compete until the end.
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers maintained their undefeated status, defeating the Chicago Bulls 144-126 as games unfolded across all six NBA Cup groups.
Clubs aimed for a robust beginning in the in-season tournament, seeking to secure a place in December's final four in Las Vegas, with outcomes also impacting the NBA regular-season standings.
Cleveland advanced to a remarkable 14-0 record, with Donovan Mitchell contributing 37 points to lead the East Group C victory.
"It's just so much fun. The vibes are right," remarked Jarrett Allen of Cleveland. "It feels like everything is coming together perfectly at this moment."
The Cavaliers have become only the sixth team in NBA history to achieve a 14-0 start, equaling the fourth-best beginning in the league's history.
James Harden equaled Ray Allen for second place behind Stephen Curry on the NBA's all-time 3-pointers list, converting 3-of-9 attempts from beyond the arc to reach a career total of 2,973 points, while scoring 21 points for the Los Angeles Clippers in their 125-104 defeat against Houston.
Jabari Smith led the Rockets with 28 points in the West Group A contest.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points, guiding Oklahoma City to a 99-83 victory over Phoenix, thereby maintaining the Thunder's lead in the Western Conference with an 11-2 record in Group B.
In West Group C, Brandon Ingram scored 29 points, helping New Orleans end a six-game losing streak with a 101-94 win over Denver. Three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic, who leads the league in rebounds and assists, was absent for personal reasons, resulting in the end of Denver's five-game winning streak.
In East Group C, Dyson Daniels of Atlanta led eight players in double figures with 25 points, as the Hawks triumphed over Washington with a score of 129-117.
In East Group A, Franz Wagner of Orlando scored 31 points and secured 11 rebounds, leading the Magic to a 98-86 victory against Philadelphia, despite Jared McCain's 29 points and Joel Embiid's 20 points.
In New York, Jalen Brunson's three-pointer with six seconds left secured a 124-122 win for the Knicks over Brooklyn. Brunson finished with 37 points, while Cam Thomas scored 43 for the Nets.
In East Group B, Bam Adebayo contributed 30 points to Miami's victory against the home team Indiana, resulting in a score of 124-111. Meanwhile, Malik Beasley's 20 points propelled Detroit to a narrow win over the home team Toronto, with a final score of 99-95.
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