Lonzo Ball has been criticised by many ever since he was drafted into the NBA by the Los Angeles Lakers, and at some points, that critique has been fair. However, last night against the San Antonio Spurs, he was clutch when his team needed him the most.The Lakers defeated the Spurs 116-112 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio on Saturday, extending their current winning streak to five games in the process. Julius Randle scored the most points for the away team on the night, but it was Ball that was the driving force behind the victory.The point guard finished the game with a double-double, scoring 18 points with seven rebounds, 11 assists, a steal, two blocks, and he was 6-of-12 from the field. His three-pointer form was also incredible, especially in the closing minutes of the game.Ball finished the game with a career-best of six of his 10 3-point attempts converted, and three of those six came within the final three minutes of the game. The 20-year-old was clutch on the court when the Lakers needed him the most in order to extend their winning streak.

Ball said after the game to ESPN: "It's always fun when you're winning, but this one we had to work a little bit harder for it. We dug ourselves a little hole, which is very hard against this team, the way they execute, but I feel like we pulled it out together."

Randle, who finished the game with 25 points, six rebounds, and three assists, was very pleased with how his teammate performed, as he said: "He's confident, just confident. He went from hitting the side of the backboard to he can't miss now."

Lakers head coach Luke Walton was also impressed with Ball's performance against the Spurs, and with how the 20-year-old has managed to play through the criticism and prove his doubters wrong.

Walton said: "I'm happy for him because I felt like he was being judged so hard to start the season. No other rookie in the league was getting dissected like he was. He was playing great, he was doing all the things we love about him. He was passing, he was playing defense, he was rebounding, he just was missing his shots. I'm glad for him (now that he's making shots)."

The Lakers play next when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night.