Imago
Credits: Imagn
Imago
Credits: Imagn
Once more we’re not getting the LeBron vs. Wemby matchup of the season we envisioned. But this is the most anticipated NBA Cup game of the West. The Lakers and Spurs are the real threats against OKC’s undefeated dominance. It’s so serious, the Lakers left out the “dangerous” NBA Cup court to ensure player safety. They’re also bringing the star trio of LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves. The Spurs were missing Victor Wembanyama but emerged as real underdogs, taking down the Lakers 119-132. The Spurs will now face OKC in the semifinals.
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Los Angeles Lakers vs Philadelphia 76ers player stats and box score
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Los Angeles Lakers
| PLAYER | MIN | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | TO | STL | BLK | PF | +/- |
| STARTERS | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| LeBron James#23 | 36 | 19 | 7-14 | 0-3 | 5-6 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | -16 |
| Rui Hachimura#28 | 31 | 8 | 3-4 | 2-3 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +5 |
| Deandre Ayton#5 | 26 | 11 | 5-9 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -10 |
| Luka Doncic#77 | 41 | 35 | 11-24 | 3-8 | 10-14 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | -2 |
| Austin Reaves#15 | 40 | 15 | 6-16 | 2-6 | 1-1 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | -5 |
| BENCH | MIN | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | TO | STL | BLK | PF | +/- |
| Jake LaRavia#12 | 9 | 0 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -25 |
| Dalton Knecht#4 | 1 | 3 | 1-1 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 |
| Adou Thiero#1 | 1 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +1 |
| Jaxson Hayes#11 | 12 | 2 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -10 |
| Marcus Smart#36 | 28 | 26 | 9-16 | 8-14 | 0-0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | +2 |
| Gabe Vincent#7 | 14 | 0 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -7 |
| Bronny James#9 | 14 | 0 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -7 |
| Jarred Vanderbilt#2 | 1 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 |
| TEAM TOTAL | – | 119 | 43-87 (49% ) | 16-37 (43%) | 17-23 (74%) | 43 | 27 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 23 | – |
San Antonio Spurs
| PLAYER | MIN | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | TO | STL | BLK | PF | +/- |
| STARTERS | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| Harrison Barnes#40 | 33 | 16 | 5-12 | 4-9 | 2-2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | +8 |
| Luke Kornet#7 | 33 | 10 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 8-9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +10 |
| De’Aaron Fox#4 | 31 | 20 | 8-17 | 4-8 | 0-0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +21 |
| Devin Vassell#24 | 31 | 8 | 2-10 | 1-4 | 3-3 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | +5 |
| Stephon Castle#5 | 27 | 30 | 10-14 | 3-6 | 7-9 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | +16 |
| BENCH | MIN | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | TO | STL | BLK | PF | +/- |
| Kelly Olynyk#8 | 12 | 2 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 2-2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | +9 |
| Lindy Waters III#43 | 1 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| Keldon Johnson#3 | 22 | 17 | 5-9 | 3-5 | 4-7 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -6 |
| Julian Champagnie#30 | 29 | 16 | 6-8 | 2-4 | 2-2 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | +6 |
| Jordan McLaughlin#0 | 1 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| Dylan Harper#2 | 20 | 13 | 6-12 | 0-1 | 1-2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | -2 |
| Jeremy Sochan#10 | DNP | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Carter Bryant#11 | DNP | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Bismack Biyombo#18 | DNP | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| TEAM TOTAL | – | 132 | 43-86 (50% ) | 17-38 (45% ) | 29-36 (81% ) | 50 | 25 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 19 | – |
Lakers vs Spurs: Game summary and key moments
Without Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs were grossly underestimated and the Lakers were favored to win. Yet the Spurs held the lead at the end of each quarter. The Lakers kept it close across three quarters, but the gap slipped away in the fourth.
Without Wemby, the guards kept the pace faster than the Lakers could keep up. Stephon Castle overwhelmed the Lakers’ defense, and he scored 21 of his 30 points in the second half alone. De’Aaron Fox added 20 points to keep the Spurs’ double-digit lead.
Ironically enough, the Lakers had the top performers of the night. Luka Doncic scored 35 points. LeBron James had a game-high 15 rebounds and 8 assists along with 19 points.
The most glaring occurrence in this game that the Lakers couldn’t wrap their heads around was when the Spurs left Marcus Smart wide open. He’s returned from an injury, hit multiple threes, set the pick-and-roll, and had a season-high 26 points with eight 3-pointers. The Spurs instead went for the Lakers’ jugular with Harrison Barnes exploiting the Lakers’ relentless defensive gaps on the perimeter. Barnes had 16 points while doing it.
Austin Reaves (15) and Rui Hachimura (8) were unexpectedly underwhelming, along with most of the Lakers’ bench. Meanwhile, the Spurs had great help coming off the bench with Dylan Harper’s 13 points, Keldon Johnson’s 17, and Julian Champagnie’s 16.
The Lakers drew more fouls, including two technical fouls. Doncic got a tech in the first quarter after Kelly Olynyk smacked him in the face, and there was no whistle. Lakers coach JJ Redick got the second tech.
The Spurs now face the defending champions, OKC, in the semifinals. The Lakers play against the Suns, who suffered a 139-89 blowout humiliation against the Thunder, on Sunday.
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