Lakers End Losing Streak, Beat Spurs 119-101, Knecht Re-Enters Starting Lineup

Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

After winning six straight, the Lakers came into Wednesday's game in San Antonio having lost three straight, one in a heartbreak (vs. Orlando) and two in a pasting (Denver and Phoenix).

They BADLY needed a sustained, quality effort against a rapidly improving Spurs team... and they got it. Behind their most balanced effort offensively of the season, the Lakers emerged with a win, 119-101. Seven players finished in double figures, including two off the bench, as Max Christie (12 points) and D'Angelo Russell (17 points) were both efficient contributors. LeBron James struggled through much of the game, shooting horribly in the first half and turning the ball over five times overall. But he turned it up after the break, and finished with a triple double. Anthony Davis didn't have to kill himself en route to 19/14.

And most importantly, the Lakers took a halftime lead and actually built on it in the third quarter, a stark contrast to what they did against the Nuggets and Suns.

This was a huge win for the Lakers, not just in the sense that the Lakers restored a little order after a bad stretch of play. It also felt like a pivot point, because Dalton Knecht entered the starting lineup for Cam Reddish, and put up 20/8, and hit four of 10 from 3-point range. It's just a different energy when he's playing a lot. He spaces defenses in ways that make life easier for teammates to operate. He's good enough to operate all over the floor, not just at the 3-point line. And Wednesday, he rebounded and defended well enough to make his minutes a major positive.

Obviously things can happen, but it certainly seems like this shift tonight in the opening five is here to stay.

Perhaps that's something to be thankful for, as the Lakers (and the NBA) get the day off for the holiday. Certainly the win will make their Thanksgiving meal taste better.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers get a huge win in San Antonio.

SEGMENT 2: Dalton Knecht enters the starting lineup. Is he there to stay?

SEGMENT 3: What balance does for LA.

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