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Spurs vs. Kings recap, reactions: Bertans has career game in 107-100 win

By Ryan Kostrzewa

SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 8: LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on January 8, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 8: LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on January 8, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The San Antonio Spurs Spurs overcame a lackluster first half and closed out the game on a 16-3  run for the victory.

On a night where most of the country was tuned in to the NCAA football championship, the San Antonio Spurs rewarded their viewers with an exciting come-from-behind win despite an injury-depleted roster. The Silver and Black were forced to play Mr. Potato Head with their lineup yet again as Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Rudy Gay, and Manu Ginobili sat, but Davis Bertans made the most of the opportunity, scoring a career-high 28 points and propelling the Spurs to victory.

For most of the first half, though, it didn’t look like San Antonio would pull it out. San Antonio scored the first basket, but the Sacramento quickly bounced back, and the Spurs would not lead again until the third quarter due to a bevy of turnovers and missed lay-ups. LaMarcus Aldridge, who played a phenomenal game from start to finish, kept the team from the Alamo City afloat in the first quarter, but the Kings expanded the deficit in the second to take a 56-46 lead into halftime.

In the third quarter, the Spurs started to chip away at Sacramento’s lead behind a fierce Aldridge and Bertans one-two punch, and even took the lead, though briefly, at 73-72 after a Patty Mills three-pointer. Although the Kings quickly took back the lead, the stage was set for a fourth-quarter rally, and rally, the Spurs did. With San Antonio trailing 91-95, Bertans hit a three-pointer off a Bryn Forbes assist, and then another following a turnover by Bogdan Bogdanovic to give the Spurs a 97-94 lead. San Antonio never looked back, and ended the game on a  16-3 run to take the 107-100 victory.

In addition to Bertans’ 28 points on 11-15 shooting, Aldridge was unstoppable, scoring 10 fourth-quarter points en route to a team-high 31. Mills also chipped in 14, and Forbes added 11. Tony Parker left the game in the third quarter with an ankle injury, but scored 7 points. For the Kings, Willie Cauley-Stein scored 22, while Bogdanovic and Garrett Temple added 16 a piece.

Next: Top 25 players in Spurs history

The Spurs will look to start another win-streak on Thursday in Los Angeles against the Lakers. Gametime is 9:30 p.m. CST.

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