The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the San Antonio Spurs 120-115 on Friday in the NBA Cup, improving their record to 8-4 for the 2024–25 campaign. Max Christie, who hadn’t played in the previous three games, was one of the several Lakers to make an impression that evening. Head coach JJ Redick sent him a note after the game.

“Really happy for Max,” Redick remarked. Over the past week, there have been two instances where a player was taken out of the rotation and subsequently returned. In Cam’s (Reddish) example, it was commencing, followed by Max missing three games and having his bad night. I’m simply pleased for him.

“It’s clear to me as his coach that he’s capable of performing like that every night because I’ve seen him do it consistently over the past months,” Redick said. “I told him, ‘If you play with that level of effort, since I know you’re capable of it, I won’t want to take you off the court,’ after several conversations we’ve had.”

Redick highlighted Christie’s defensive effort against Victor Wembanyama, saying, “The way he fronted Wembanyama when we switched to red 1 through 5 completely disrupted their half-court rhythm. He even got a steal on one play. His physicality and commitment to his role tonight were executed flawlessly.”

Christie had barely seen playing time, logging just over two minutes across games against the Raptors and 76ers and sitting out entirely during the Lakers’ 128-123 win over the Grizzlies on Wednesday. Redick had been disappointed with the 21-year-old’s season-opening performance, leaving doubts about his future minutes.

However, with Rui Hachimura sidelined due to an ankle injury in the game against the Spurs at Frost Bank Center, Christie got an opportunity. He delivered on Redick’s pregame prediction that his playing time would increase in Hachimura’s absence.

Christie finished with 11 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 1 block in his 30 minutes of action against the Spurs. He helped the Lakers win four straight games with shots of 4-7 from the field, 1-3 from three, and 2-2 from the line. Christie, who was a game-high +23, also played excellent defense, as Redick noted.

Christie also did a good job of fronting Victor Wembanyama, grabbing a crucial steal in the fourth quarter that allowed Gabe Vincent to make a three-pointer.

Redick will be more than willing to give Christie a lot of minutes if he continues in this manner. Although it appeared that the Lakers had erred in offering the guard that four-year, $32 million contract in the offseason, they were aware of his potential.

When the Lakers play the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on Saturday at 8 PM IST, Christie will have his next chance to shine. The Pelicans enter that game having defeated the Denver Nuggets to snap a six-game losing streak, but I don’t think they’ll win consecutive games.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis lead the Los Angeles Lakers to victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

NEW YORK: Despite not being in “good rhythm,” LeBron James created NBA history and Anthony Davis scored 40 points as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the San Antonio Spurs 120-115 to begin their run at retaining the NBA Cup.

For the first time in his 22 NBA seasons, James recorded a triple-double in a fourth straight game on November 15. Over a game-high 38 minutes, the 39-year-old legend finished with 15 points, 16 rebounds, and 12 assists.

“It’s crazy to wait 22 years to take action. James told ESPN, “I’m glad I can still come out here and make some plays to help our ball club win because I love the game.”

With four consecutive triple-doubles in winning games, he tied a Lakers triple-double record run and became the oldest player in NBA history. Despite his seven turnovers, he said he “played like s**t,” which hurt.

“I’m simply working hard. With the ball, my teammates have faith in me. With the seven turnovers tonight, I suppose they had a little too much faith in me,” he added.

“If I want to have the ball in my hands, I need to be much better than that. I will tidy that up.

Chris Paul became the third player in NBA history to record 12,000 assists during the game at Frost Bank Centre. He joins a list that was previously held by Jason Kidd (12,091) and John Stockton (15,806).

“I was like, ‘I’m going to catch that,’ when I looked up the all-time assists and steals leader, John Stockton, the first time I played in Utah. That was untrue. However, Paul was cited by ESPN as stating, “This is really cool.”

Victor Wembanyama, the NBA Rookie of the Year from the previous season, lost a battle of the big men to Davis, who also pulled down 12 rebounds. In the West Group B match, the Spurs were led by the Frenchman, who finished with 28 points and 14 rebounds.

“Another outstanding game from AD. Every night, we rely on AD. In addition to the first option, he also gets the second option. He has undoubtedly been a beast this year,” James said.

James made a lay-up, his first basket in over 20 minutes, and Davis made a slam dunk with 91 seconds remaining after Stephon Castle’s layup put the Spurs ahead 115-114. Spurs’ fate was sealed when James hit two free throws after Castle missed a game-winning three-point effort.

Late in the game, Davis collided with Wembanyama, hitting his left knee with his right during a drive to the hoop, but both players remained on the court until the final whistle.

In NBA Cup action, LeBron James’ former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, secured a dominant 144-126 victory over the Chicago Bulls, preserving their perfect record. The results also impact the NBA regular-season standings. Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 37 points, pushing their impressive record to 14-0 in East Group C at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

“It’s just so much fun. Everything feels right,” said Cleveland center Jarrett Allen.
“We have an incredible chemistry, an amazing understanding, and mutual respect,” added Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson. “It’s remarkable to witness.”

The Cavaliers now boast the fourth-best start in NBA history and join an elite group as only the sixth team ever to start 14-0.

In West Group A, Anthony Edwards scored 36 points to lead the Timberwolves to a 130-126 overtime victory against the Sacramento Kings, despite De’Aaron Fox dropping an impressive 60 points for the home team.

Elsewhere in the same group, James Harden contributed 21 points for the Clippers in their 125-104 loss to the Rockets. Harden’s three made three-pointers moved him into a tie with Ray Allen for second place on the NBA’s all-time three-pointers list at 2,973, trailing only Stephen Curry’s 3,782. Jabari Smith led Houston with 28 points.

In Group B, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 28 points helped the Oklahoma City Thunder defeat the visiting Phoenix Suns 99-83, maintaining their lead in the Western Conference standings with an 11-2 record.