The Lakers closed the California Classic with a narrow victory over the Spurs, 88-84.<\/p>\n
Adou Thiero was a late scratch while Cameron Carr only played in the first half. Chris Ma\u00f1on stepped into the starting lineup in place of Thiero, who was out with a wrist injury.<\/p>\n
The young Lakers had a rough start to the game, missing shots and turning the ball over. Cameron Carr was the first to score on a layup. A familiar face, R.J. Davis, had five points for the Spurs.<\/p>\n
LA had six turnovers. With 4:11 left in the quarter, Los Angeles had only put up four points.<\/p>\n
Arthur Kaluma had productive minutes off the bench for the Lakers with four points. Ma\u00f1on drained a triple, which was only the third shot LA converted in 12 attempts. Los Angeles was down six after one.<\/p>\n
The Lakers started the second period with a stronger defensive scheme. Luke Goode drained a 3-pointer for LA early. Los Angeles had gotten to within two until the Spurs scored five in a row. Scoring had been a struggle in the first quarter, but well into this period, every single Laker who played was on the board.<\/p>\n
Ma\u00f1on scored four in a row, giving himself seven points in the half. Kaluma was close behind with six and Carr had five. After just shooting 25% in the first quarter, the Lakers ended the half shooting 36%. They were down by eight at halftime.<\/p>\n
Carr did not play in the second half, likely getting rest after playing the first two games.<\/p>\n
Both teams started the third period exchanging 3-pointers. AK Okereke now had seven points after scoring five early in the quarter. It was a four-point deficit for LA at the 7:56 mark. Ma\u00f1on continued his strong play, ending the quarter as one of only two Lakers in double figures with 13 points.<\/p>\n
Goode nailed two more triples, making him a perfect 3-3 from behind the arc. At the end of the third, the purple and gold were now up by three. Los Angeles outscored the Spurs 27 to 16.<\/p>\n
The Lakers went up by seven early in the final frame. They continued to get production from everyone they put on the floor. Ma\u00f1on now had 16 points. Kaluma was the other Laker in double figures with 15. Los Angeles led the entire fourth quarter, despite San Antonio\u2019s efforts to take over.<\/p>\n
With 13 seconds left, LA called a timeout leading by three. Ma\u00f1on put the team up by four with a freebie as he put the team on his back alongside Kaluma. The Spurs called a timeout with nine seconds left, hoping to pull off a miracle that did not come.<\/p>\n
Ma\u00f1on finished with 24 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two steals and three blocks. Kaluma had 16 points in 27 minutes off the bench. Carr ended with five points, going 2-7 from the field. Okereke pitched in with seven points and four rebounds. LA\u2019s bench had 45 points.<\/p>\n
Las Vegas Summer League begins Friday, July 10th, against the Oklahoma City Thunder at 7:00 PM PT.<\/p>\n
You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians<\/a>.<\/p>\n