The Lakers are starting to become whole again, day by day and game by game.
LeBron James is not back yet, but the Lakers forward is making progress with his abdominal strain that kept him out of his sixth straight game Sunday afternoon.
Talen Horton-Tucker was back for the Lakers, his first game of the season after right thumb surgery. Horton-Tucker also was in the starting lineup, joining super-sub Carmelo Anthony as Lakers coach Frank Vogel decided to make changes to his first unit.
One of the Lakers’ constants in the lineup has been Anthony Davis, who produced 34 points, 15 rebounds and six assists to lead the Lakers to a 114-106 win over the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center.
Horton-Tucker had 17 points including a driving layup to push the Lakers’ lead to 107-103.
Anthony had 15 points, which included a three-pointer off a pass from Davis with 1 minutes 46 seconds left to push the lead to 110-103 following a late Spurs rally.
Russell Westbrook added 14 points that included a layup off pass from Davis that pushed the lead to 112-103 with 1:18 left. Westbrook also had 11 rebounds and seven assists.
Guard Dejounte Murray led San Antonio with a triple-double of 22 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, while forward Keldon Johnson had 24 points. Reserve forward Devin Vassell contributed 19 points and seven rebounds.
UP NEXT
VS. CHICAGO
When: 7:30 p.m., Monday
On the air: TV: Spectrum SportsNet; Radio: 710, 1330
Update: The Lakers complete a five-game homestand in a back-to-back game for both teams. The Bulls played Sunday night against the Clippers. Former Laker and fan favorite Alex Caruso leads the Bulls in steals (2.5) and is averaging 8.2 points. Chicago has four players averaging double figures, led by Zach LaVine (25.7) and DeMar DeRozan (25.3), but will be without two-time All-Star center Nikola Vucevic (health protocols), who is averaging 13.6 points, 10.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.