SAN ANTONIO — LeBron James was in a good mood before the game, his happiness coming from being able to play Friday night against the San Antonio Spurs after missing the previous five with a strained left adductor.
James had watched the Lakers go 3-2 in his absence and Anthony Davis become a force by dropping at least 30 points in four of the games and average 17.4 rebounds over those five games. James also saw Patrick Beverley miss his first of a three-game suspension without pay for shoving Suns center Deandre Ayton during a Lakers game at Phoenix on Tuesday. Dennis Schroder started in place of Beverley.
Although the Lakers lost their way in the third quarter by not playing with purpose and determination, watching a 20-point lead shrink to three early in the fourth, James and the Lakers rebounded to pull out a 105-94 win over the Spurs at AT&T Center for their first road win of the season.
