The Los Angeles Lakers faced the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night in their last game of a road trip through Texas, with the goal of winning two straight against the worst team in the Western Conference.

LeBron James and Jarred Vanderbilt were able to return to the Lakers, but the team was down three starters due to injuries to Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell, and Cam Reddish. The Spurs had lost their previous eighteen games in a row coming into the matchup, but they made sure the run did not go to nineteen by winning 129-115 in the end.

The Lakers, lacking so many key players, struggled predictably early on as the Spurs jumped out to an early 16-4 lead despite a stunning dunk by James in a breakaway.

Austin Reaves was in the starting lineup for the Lakers and scored a few baskets in the opening minutes, despite the fact that Spurs players like Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson were hot early on. Darvin Ham had to finally call a timeout for the Lakers at 21-8.

Following that, Victor Wembanyama controlled the paint on both ends to give San Antonio a 20-point lead at the end of the first quarter (42–22), underscoring the Lakers’ deficiency in size in the absence of Davis.

The Spurs looked hot out of the gate in the second quarter, while the Lakers appeared cold. But when the lead increased to 25, the Lakers began to rally with a 15-2 run. As Los Angeles finally started to receive some shots, Reaves, James, and Taurean Prince forged close bonds.

James kept the Laker momentum going with a three-pointer that dipped just under Wembanyama’s eyes to close the half. Additionally, Christian Wood contributed significantly to the team’s offensive output, which allowed them to trim a 25-point lead to only seven points at the half, 69-62.

Unfortunately, the Spurs, who had led by 16 points at one point in the third quarter, got back to their usual self in the fourth quarter, where they torched from beyond the arc.

But when his team most needed it, Reaves made back-to-back long threes to lead his team to an 8-0 run. But the young Spurs remained composed and gradually took control, coming out on top in the fourth quarter to lead 98-87. For the second time this season, the Spurs emerged victorious in the third quarter.

Vassell and the Spurs maintained their strong play in the fourth quarter, extending their lead to 17 points. James was doing everything he could to create opportunities for his teammates, but they were missing while the Spurs were scoring easily on the other end.

By the halfway point of the fourth quarter, the Spurs were up twenty points. The Lakers ultimately suffered the devastating defeat as a result of Ham’s decision to halt the game and bench James.

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