Los Angeles @ San Antonio preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 3, 2019 ) L.A. Lakers 103, San Antonio 96

The San Antonio Spurs just snapped their eight-game slide with a win at the New York Knicks on Saturday and will play nine of the next 11 games at home - including a game in Mexico on Dec. 14 - as they try to get things right. The Spurs won't have it easy in that regard when they welcome the NBA-best Los Angeles Lakers on Monday.

The eight-game slide was the longest for San Antonio in the Gregg Popovich era and featured the team allowing opponents an average of 122.4 points, prompting Popovich to call his team "defensively challenged." The Spurs were stronger on that end of the floor in New York, limiting the Knicks to 43 percent shooting and jumping out to a 68-43 lead at the half before cruising after the break. The Lakers will give that defense a much bigger test with stars Anthony Davis and LeBron James coming in on a seven-game winning streak. Los Angeles was playing the second night of a back-to-back on the road Saturday at Memphis and leaned on James to carry the team down the stretch.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles), FS Southwest (San Antonio)

ABOUT THE LAKERS (14-2): James is averaging a career-high and NBA-leading 10.8 assists while spending most of his time at the point guard spot for Los Angeles and is thriving while continuing to gain comfort with Davis on the floor. James took on more scoring responsibilities for his tired team on Saturday and had a string of seven straight games recording double figures in assists come to an end when he handed out four. The future Hall of Famer recorded a season high with 27 field goal attempts against the Grizzlies, connecting on 14, and scored 30 points in the 109-108 triumph.

ABOUT THE SPURS (6-11): San Antonio's effort on the defensive end was on display Saturday but it was combined with a strong shooting night as the team shot 53.3 percent from the floor, including 12-of-23 from beyond the arc. Veteran power forward LaMarcus Aldridge led the way with 23 points on 8-of-15 shooting while Patty Mills gave the team a big lift off the bench by going 5-of-5 from beyond the arc. Star guard DeMar DeRozan continued his consistent play with 21 points - his fourth consecutive 20-plus effort.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Lakers SG Alex Caruso (calf) sat out Saturday and is day-to-day.

2. Spurs SG Bryn Forbes is 1-of-11 from 3-point range over the last two games.

3. James collected 21 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds in Los Angeles' 103-96 win at San Antonio on Nov. 3.

PREDICTION: Lakers 109, Spurs 103