— In a late-night finish at the AT&T Center, the Los Angeles Lakers held off the San Antonio Spurs 118-116 after erasing a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit. Luka Dončić paced the Lakers with a 35-point, 9-rebound, 13-assist line, and the game ended when Keldon Johnson missed a potential putback after a chaotic 0.1-second sequence. The result closed an 11-game NBA slate that also featured Portland’s comeback over Oklahoma City and Donovan Mitchell’s 46-point night in Cleveland.
Key Takeaways
- The Lakers beat the Spurs 118-116 in San Antonio; Dončić finished with 35 points, 9 rebounds and 13 assists, including eight points in the fourth quarter.
- San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama had 19 points and 8 rebounds; Jeremy Sochan (16) and Harrison Barnes (14) also factored, and three Spurs players fouled out.
- Portland rallied from 22 down to beat the Thunder 121-119; Deni Avdija scored 26 as the Trail Blazers improved to 5-3.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s streak of 20+ scoring games reached 81, but the Thunder lost to the Trail Blazers 121-119.
- Donovan Mitchell poured in 46 points on 21 shots as Cleveland defeated Philadelphia 132-121, passing LeBron for a Cavaliers scoring mark involving 40-point, 5-plus three-point games.
- The Brooklyn Nets notched their first win of the season, 112-103 over Indiana, with Michael Porter Jr. scoring 32.
- Jalen Duren posted a 22-point, 22-rebound game — a season high for rebounds — in Detroit’s 114-103 victory over Utah.
Background
Tonight’s ESPN doubleheader paired two compelling Western Conference stories: Luka Dončić’s scoring surge for the Lakers and Victor Wembanyama’s early-season dominance for the Spurs. Entering the matchup, Dončić was carrying massive usage and averages (41.3 points per game in the early season snapshot) while the Spurs had opened 5-1 with Wembanyama posting 26.7 PPG, 13.7 RPG and 4.7 BPG. The league-wide slate included 11 games and several headline-making individual nights, underscoring how quickly narratives can shift in the first month of the regular season.
The Lakers have navigated injuries to key rotation pieces — Austin Reaves and LeBron James were out of tonight’s lineup — relying on Dončić and a collection of veteran role players. San Antonio has built its strong start on Wembanyama’s interior impact and the emergence of young wings like Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper. Across the league, rising veterans and rookies produced notable moments: Russell Westbrook’s double-double for Sacramento, Will Richard’s first 30-point start for Golden State, and rookie/young-player breakouts across several games.
Main Event: How the Game Unfolded
The Lakers trailed late in the third before mounting a fourth-quarter comeback that erased a nine-point deficit. Dončić took over in crunch time, scoring eight in the final period and orchestrating the offense without Reaves and LeBron. Los Angeles engineered stops and timely buckets to flip momentum, then survived a chaotic close that hinged on a 0.1-second inbound sequence and a missed putback by Keldon Johnson.
The decisive sequence began when Marcus Smart stepped over the inbound line with 0.1 seconds left, resulting in free throws for the Spurs sequence. Julian Champagnie was fouled and missed his first free throw; he intentionally missed the second and attempted to create an offensive rebound opportunity. Keldon Johnson’s putback attempt rimmed out as time expired, sealing the two-point win for the Lakers.
San Antonio’s rotation was affected late as Victor Wembanyama, Jeremy Sochan and Harrison Barnes all fouled out, limiting the Spurs’ options down the stretch. The Spurs had led for stretches behind a strong third-quarter run and interior defense, but they could not convert the final rebound attempt that would have extended the game. The loss drops San Antonio from the hot start but leaves the Spurs well within early-season positioning.
Analysis & Implications
Matchup dynamics: Dončić’s playmaking versus Wembanyama’s rim protection continues to be the most intriguing stylistic duel in the league. Tonight showed both sides of that coin: Dončić’s ability to create off the bounce and find seams neutralized some interior shot denial, while Wembanyama’s length changed shots and altered spacing for Los Angeles. The Lakers’ ability to withstand Wembanyama when he fouled out — and to complete a fourth-quarter comeback without two primary rotation pieces — speaks to their supporting cast depth.
Team trajectories: The Lakers, now 7-2, are riding an early hot stretch that raises questions about roster balance and long-term health management if LeBron remains sidelined. San Antonio’s 5-2 run to start the season still reflects a high ceiling, but tight losses like this one test bench depth and late-game execution. For both clubs, margin for error in close games will determine seeding outcomes when conference standings tighten.
League-wide context: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 81-game run of 20-plus scoring nights remains a striking individual accomplishment despite the Thunder’s loss. Donovan Mitchell’s 46-point output in Cleveland — and his new franchise mark in a specific 40-point/5+ three-pointer category — highlights the Cavaliers’ offensive potential. Meanwhile, the Nets’ first win and Duren’s rebounding explosion are reminders that rotation and role developments continue to reshape expected outcomes through November.
Comparison & Data
| Player | Season Avg (PTS/RPG/APG) | Tonight (PTS/REB/AST) | Team Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luka Dončić | 41.3 / 11.5 / 8.3 | 35 / 9 / 13 | Lakers 7-2 |
| Victor Wembanyama | 26.7 / 13.7 / — / 4.7 BPG | 19 / 8 / — | Spurs 5-2 |
The table juxtaposes season averages with tonight’s box-score lines to underline how single-game outcomes can differ from season trends. Dončić’s game scored slightly below his early-season average but included enough playmaking to決 influence the outcome. Wembanyama’s scoring output was modest relative to his averages, but his rim presence still altered the Lakers’ shot plans.
Reactions & Quotes
After the win, Dončić emphasized the group effort and the challenge of winning without two regular rotation pieces. His postgame remarks framed the comeback as a testament to the roster’s resilience and competitive identity.
“To come back, being with (Austin Reaves) and (LeBron James) out, it’s unbelievable. They fight every moment of the game. It’s so fun to play with them.”
Luka Dončić
Broadcasters captured the drama of the finish and the game’s narrative arc. Veteran voices on the broadcast highlighted both the chaotic final sequence and the Lakers’ ability to close.
“What a wild finish.”
Mike Breen (play-by-play announcer)
Analysts also flagged how close the Lakers came to collapsing and the flip side of the Spurs’ late-game execution. One analyst used the matchup as an example of how tiny margins in finish situations determine the outcome of tightly contested Western Conference games.
“You’re talking about the anatomy of a collapse… but the Lakers ultimately get the win.”
Tim Legler (analyst)
Unconfirmed
- LeBron James’s immediate timetable for return was not confirmed in the postgame information; his status for upcoming games remains uncertain.
- Some reports suggested the inbound-step and 0.1-second sequence might be reviewed for clock accuracy; official clarification from the league on any review details had not been published at the time of this report.
Bottom Line
The Lakers’ 118-116 victory in San Antonio underscored the fusion of superstar creation and role-player execution that will define many outcomes this season. Dončić’s 35-point triple-double headline was the difference-maker, but the late-game sequence and Rust defensive plays swung the result. For the Spurs, the loss will sting given the foul trouble and missed final rebound, yet their 5-2 start still positions them as a rising young core in the West.
Looking ahead, these teams will test adjustments: Los Angeles must manage minutes and health while relying on Dončić’s load, and San Antonio needs late-game discipline and bench consistency to convert narrow losses into wins. League-wide, individual streaks and breakout nights — from SGA’s scoring consistency to Jalen Duren’s rebounding — keep the early-season picture fluid and make the next wave of matchups must-see television.