Lakers' Late Comeback Shocks Spurs as Bronny Struggles

Lakers Edge Spurs in Dramatic Fourth Quarter Comeback

The Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up their California Classic against the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night at Chase Center. This game served as a final tune-up for the Lakers and guard Bronny James before they head to Las Vegas for their upcoming match against the Dallas Mavericks.

In a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback, the Lakers managed to secure an 89-88 victory over the Spurs. However, it was a challenging night for Bronny James, who scored just 2 points, shot 1-of-5 from the field, and committed three turnovers in 15 minutes of play.

A Three-Man Offensive Explosion

The Lakers relied heavily on a trio of players who delivered standout performances. Dalton Knecht, Darius Bazley, and Cole Swider combined for 67 of the Lakers' 89 points. Knecht was particularly impressive in the fourth quarter, scoring 15 points in the final six minutes, including three three-pointers. He finished the game with 25 points and eight rebounds.

Bazley played a crucial role in the win, grabbing 13 rebounds and contributing 27 points. His game-winning putback slam dunk off a missed shot by Knecht with just 13 seconds remaining sealed the victory for the Lakers.

On the opposing side, David Jones-Garcia led the Spurs with 25 points, shooting 9-of-14 from the field.

Live Game Updates

Here are some key moments from the game:

Fourth Quarter Highlights

• End of Game, Lakers 89, Spurs 88: The Lakers' defense forced a contested fadeaway from Omari Moore, leading to the final win.
• 13.3, Lakers 89, Spurs 88: Knecht's fourth-quarter shooting and Bazley’s putback dunk with 13 seconds left gave the Lakers the lead.
• 2:14, Spurs 83, Lakers 80: Knecht hit back-to-back threes, cutting the Spurs' lead to one possession. The Spurs called a timeout.
• 2:58, Spurs 83, Lakers 74: The Lakers pushed the pace, with Bazley, Knecht, and Swider leading the offensive charge.
• 5:32, Spurs 78, Lakers 69: Bronny sat out the start of the fourth quarter. The Lakers trimmed the lead to seven, but the Spurs responded with back-to-back triples.

Third Quarter Highlights

• End of Third, Spurs 68, Lakers 57: Bronny returned for the final two minutes of the quarter but didn’t see much action. Chibuzo Agbo hit a corner three-pointer, extending the Spurs’ lead to 11 heading into the fourth.
• 2:21, Spurs 65, Lakers 51: Agbo scored his first bucket of the game with a corner three-pointer. Swider and Bazley accounted for 31 of the Lakers’ 51 points.
• 5:24, Spurs 56, Lakers 49: Bronny had a rough 2.5-minute stint to start the third quarter, including a turnover, a blocking foul, and an airball on an open three.

Second Quarter Highlights

• End of Second, Spurs 47, Lakers 42: Cole Swider scored tough midrange buckets, while Bronny added his first points of the game with a lefty layup. The Spurs maintained a slight lead at halftime.
• 2:56, Spurs 41, Lakers 36: Bronny re-entered the game, and David Jones-Garcia led the Spurs with 12 points in 10 minutes.
• 5:32, Spurs 34, Lakers 33: Bronny started the quarter with a steal and a missed three-pointer. Despite not scoring, he made several good passes that led to open shots for his teammates.

First Quarter Highlights

• End of First, Spurs 25, Lakers 22: Bronny sat out the final five minutes of the first quarter. Darius Bazley carried the Lakers with free throws, a putback dunk, and a three-pointer.
• 5:37, Lakers 12, Spurs 10: Bronny turned the ball over on a layup attempt and missed a contested right-handed layup. Knecht scored seven of the Lakers’ 12 points.
• 8:47, Lakers 4, Spurs 2: Knecht scored a putback and a fastbreak dunk to give the Lakers a 4-2 lead. The Spurs called a timeout.

Upcoming Schedule

Following their victory over the Spurs, the Lakers will travel to Las Vegas for their next game against the Dallas Mavericks. This matchup is highly anticipated, as it will be the first Summer League game for Dallas Mavericks rookie forward Cooper Flagg.

Flagg was selected No. 1 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft after a standout freshman season with the Duke Blue Devils.

In addition to the game against the Mavericks, the Lakers have several other games scheduled in Las Vegas, including matchups against the New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Clippers, and Boston Celtics. After these games, the Lakers will be placed in either the championship or consolation bracket.