LeBron James' dominant fourth quarter helps Lakers extend with streak to eight with victory in San Antonio

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LeBron James

The Lakers were playing their third game in four days as part of a four-game road trip but even that couldn't stand in their way.

The purple-and-gold marched on their season-high eighth consecutive win by defeating the San Antonio Spurs 114-104, their ninth loss in the last 10 games. The Lakers' win streak is the best since the 2010-11 season when they won eight games in a row three times over the course of the season. 

In this one, a total of six Lakers players scored in double figures as the visitors have now beaten the Spurs twice in two games, both in San Antonio. Here are the biggest takeaways from this one: 

MVP Candidate LeBron takes over in the fourth

The Lakers were up 86-82 heading into the fourth quarter and that's when James took over. 

Playing 10:43 of the 12 minutes in the final period, James finished with 12 points (6-10 FG's, 3-5 3PM), five assists, and two rebounds while committing zero turnovers. 

He finished the game with 33 points and 14 assists - his 13th point-assist double-double in 17 games this season.

In the midst of carrying the team in the fourth quarter, James passed Peja Stojakovic on the all-time 3-pointers made list. 

The 15-2 start for the Lakers is the best 17-game start of James' entire career

Aldridge & DeRozan deliver - Spurs bench struggles to fire

The Spurs' veteran duo of LaMarcus Aldridge (30) and DeMar DeRozan (24) combined for 54 points on 23-of-41 (56.1%) shooting from the field but didn't receive much from the rest of the starters or their bench. 

Aldridge has been inconsistent this season as this was only his fourth 25+ point game of the season in 18 games so far. On the other hand, DeRozan has been averaging a healthy 22.2 points this season on 52.2% shooting from the field and has been slightly more consistent with this being his eight 24+ point game of the season. 

The rest of the team only had two other players in double figures as they combined to shoot 18-of-47 (38.2%) from the field.

Their bench, which is ranked 6th in points per game with 42.4, only scored 22 today. Meanwhile, the Lakers bench scored 34, with Rajon Rondo (13 points), Troy Daniels (11) and Kyle Kuzma (10) doing the heavy lifting off the bench.

Big games coming up

The Lakers have had a relatively easier schedule to begin the 2019-20 season and to their credit, they have take care of business, as their record shows. 

However, over the next 10 days, they are set to face three of the top six teams in the Western Conference - Dallas, Denver and Utah.

While they face the Mavericks to begin December at the Staples Center, they face-off against the Nuggets and Jazz in a back-to-back, teams that are current 2nd and 6th in the West. Which one of these teams will snap the Lakers' win streak? 

Ahead of that stretch, the Lakers are set for New Orleans to play the Pelicans after Thanksgiving in what should be an emotional return for Anthony Davis.  

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