It was almost 4 a.m. when the Lakers arrived at their hotel in the San Antonio area. Their last two losses have exposed some of the team’s worst internal fears.
The way they played in the second half of losses to Denver and Phoenix made players wonder if all the work the team had put in over the last two months was worth it — that all the effort and time spent trying to make a change wasn’t worth it. it mattered.
When Denver pushed the familiar pressure points, the Lakers fell apart. As the offense cooled and rims tightened in Phoenix, they folded.
Their body language said what no one dared to mutter in public: “Here we go again.”
But by taking the floor Wednesday night, the Lakers took on the persona of their head coach, JJ Redick, who said before the game, “I don’t think I’ve ever dealt with the past.”
Energized, partly by a new starting five and partly by a new chance to get back to winning ways, the Lakers played one of their most consistent games of the season on both ends of the court in a 119-101 win against the team. Spurs.
Read more: The Lakers are looking to bolster their defense by returning to a more physical game
Redick moved rookie Dalton Knecht back into the starting five, moved Cam Reddish to the bench, and the group responded by winning each of the four quarters.
They wreaked havoc defensively and dictated play with their physicality, pushing Spurs phenom Victor Wembanya away from the paint. Offensively, the ball jumped, baskets almost always came as a result of sharp passes, the Lakers recaptured the vibe that evaporated during their three-game losing streak.
Knecht led seven players in double figures with 20 points, LeBron James had his sixth triple-double and Anthony Davis had 19 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists. D’Angelo Russell had one of the best games of his season, scoring 17 goals off the bench. Max Christie added 12.
The Lakers’ NBA Cup chances are still alive, but they need a win on Friday against Oklahoma City (while the Spurs need to upset the Suns).
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.