Aussie veteran’s 19-year first in nailbiter

Australian basketballer Patty Mills has scored a career-high eight three-pointers during the San Antonio Spurs’ narrow victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday AEDT.

Coming off the bench at the Staples Centre, Mills mustered a team-high 27 points in the 116-113 win, ending a four-game losing streak.

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“It was a mentality we came out with on the defensive end. It has nothing to do with shooting the ball,” Mills said after the game.

“Playing team defence like that fuels the fire and confidence for everyone to be able to play with the same sort of energy.”

Serge Ibaka of the LA Clippers passes past Patty Mills.Source:AFP

The 32-year-old point guard has represented the Spurs since 2012, winning an NBA title with the franchise in 2014.

Dejounte Murray scored 21 points, Rudy Gay had 16 and LaMarcus Aldridge chipped in 14 for the Spurs, who tied a franchise record with 20 three-pointers.

But it was a closer-run contest than the Spurs might have liked. Up by 15 points with 5:15 left to play, the Spurs saw their lead cut to two points with 13 seconds left.

Clippers star Kawhi Leonard led all scorers with 30 points, but he couldn’t get his fadeaway three-pointer to tie the game with two seconds remaining to fall.

Patty Mills is the first Spur with 8+ threes off the bench since Stephen Jackson in 2002.

He finished with 27 points tonight. pic.twitter.com/hN5OXkUUhP

I feel like Patty Mills somehow flies under the radar in the Aussie sports world. currently 8/11 from 3 against LAC. 12 years in the league. Was talked about a lot when they won chips but you don’t see much anymore. Star

You've never seen Patty Mills hit more 3s, and the Spurs needed every one of the career-high 8 that he made to win in LA tonight.

JAMES, DAVIS CARRY LAKERS TO WIN

LeBron James and Anthony Davis picked up the pace when the Los Angeles Lakers needed them most, coming up big in the waning minutes of a 94-92 victory over the Grizzlies in Memphis on Wednesday AEDT.

James and Davis scored 26 points apiece as the reigning NBA champions escaped with a victory that kept them unbeaten in four road games this season and improved their record to 6-2 overall.

James, who added 11 rebounds and seven assists, scored 21 of his points in the second half to make sure Los Angeles came out on the right side of the ledger on a night when both teams struggled shooting.

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.=Source:AFP

The Lakers trailed 79-77 with 5:18 remaining before Davis drained a three-pointer to put Los Angeles ahead, at which point he and James took over.

A steal by Davis led to a James jumper, and a block by Davis kept the momentum rolling as they combined for 15 straight Lakers points.

Each had a turnover in the closing span, but Kyle Kuzma’s layup, off a feed from James, pushed a three-point lead to five with 3.5 seconds left and Devin Brooks’ three-pointer for the Grizzlies wasn’t enough.

“We were able to close the game out, get some timely stops and some timely buckets,” James said.

— AFP

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