LeBron James, just a month and a half away from turning 40, recorded his fourth consecutive triple-double on Friday as the Los Angeles Lakers secured a 115-120 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in their debut at the NBA Cup.  

Defending champions from last year’s inaugural edition of the tournament, the Lakers, now riding a four-game winning streak, leaned on an ageless LeBron James, who delivered 15 points, 16 rebounds, and 12 assists. However, his performance was slightly marred by 7 turnovers.  

Beyond LeBron, the Lakers (8-4) enjoyed a stellar performance from Anthony Davis, who notched 40 points and 12 rebounds. Austin Reaves contributed 19 points and 6 assists, as the Lakers showcased six players with double-digit scoring.  

On the Spurs’ side (6-7), Victor Wembanyama, who dazzled with 50 points in the previous game, tallied 28 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 assists, though he also committed 5 turnovers.  

Stephon Castle (22 points) and Chris Paul (11 points, 11 assists) also stood out for a Spurs team missing head coach Gregg Popovich, who is recovering from a minor stroke.  

Chris Paul reached a milestone by surpassing 12,000 career assists, a feat only two other players in NBA history have accomplished: John Stockton and Jason Kidd.