LOS ANGELES — The San Antonio Spurs shredded the Los Angeles Lakers’ shaky perimeter defense and advanced to the NBA Cup semifinals with a 132-119 victory on Wednesday night, ending L.A.’s bid for a second tournament crown in three seasons and depriving each Lakers player of a potential $530,000 payout.
San Antonio buried 17 of 38 attempts from long range (44.7%) and led by as many as 24 points at Crypto.com Arena. The Spurs also attacked inside, earning a 29-for-36 night at the free throw line compared with the Lakers’ 17-for-23.
Transition play widened the gap. According to GeniusIQ, the Spurs produced 35 fast-break points — their season high and the most Los Angeles has surrendered this year.
“They were just going downhill, driving and kick,” said Luka Doncic, whose 35 points and eight assists were not enough to offset the defensive breakdowns. “Each one of us got to be better.”
The defeat dropped Los Angeles to 17-7 overall but echoed several one-sided losses from the season’s opening quarter. Entering the night, the Lakers ranked in the NBA’s bottom five in opponents’ three-point percentage (38.2%).
Two days earlier, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, longtime agent and friend of LeBron James, questioned the roster’s ceiling on the debut episode of his podcast, “Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul.” “I don’t think they have enough to get to the Western Conference finals,” Paul said. “I don’t think they have enough to really contend.”
James dismissed any December playoff talk after finishing with 19 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists. “I can’t think about what we can do in the playoffs in December,” he said. “The habits we build throughout the regular season are what’s important. Talking about postseason damage right now isn’t right for the basketball gods.”
Head coach JJ Redick acknowledged the constant scrutiny that comes with the franchise. “Sports are an emotional game,” Redick noted before tip-off. “It’s hard not to have overreactions.” After the loss, he pinpointed ball containment as the team’s biggest issue: “Being able to contain the basketball is probably the most difficult thing for our team right now.”
The Spurs extended their winning streak to 12 games despite the continued absence of Victor Wembanyama, who remains sidelined by a calf strain.
“The spirit’s still high in here. We know we can do it,” Lakers guard Austin Reaves said. “But we have to be a group that guards with five people.”
Source: ESPN
