The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a tough 126-102 defeat to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday at Crypto.com Arena. Despite holding the advantage through the first half, the Lakers faltered in the third quarter, as the Spurs rallied with standout performances from Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Devin Vassell. This defeat marks the Lakers’ third consecutive loss, following setbacks against the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks.
The defeat leaves the Lakers at 20-17, now sitting seventh in the Western Conference standings. Meanwhile, the Spurs improved to 19-19 and moved up to the eleventh spot in the West.
San Antonio Spurs Edge Closer To Play-In Spot With Dominant Win Over Lakers
The Spurs’ third-quarter onslaught shifted the game’s scenario entirely. Victor Wembanyama displayed his two-way prowess, finishing with 23 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks.
Victor Wembanyama tonight:
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) January 14, 2025
23 Points
8 Rebounds
5 Assists
3 Steals
2 Blocks
58% FG pic.twitter.com/TQ4p59Y1dV
Vassell matched his output, contributing 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists, while rookie star Castle added another 23 points with a 10-of-15 shooting performance. Veteran point guard Chris Paul chipped in with 13 points, 10 assists, and 3 steals. A touching moment followed the game when Paul and Wembanyama gave their game-worn jerseys to Lakers coach JJ Redick’s sons.
Anthony Davis led the Lakers with a strong 30-point, 13-rebound performance, but the team failed to sustain its momentum. LeBron James contributed 18 points but struggled in the second half, scoring just 6 points while committing 5 turnovers and grabbing no rebounds. Austin Reaves added 12 points and 8 assists, while Max Christie chipped in 10 points in 31 minutes.
Next up, the Lakers will face the Miami Heat on Wednesday, while the Spurs are set to take on the Memphis Grizzlies the same night.
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