Lakers Battle Spurs in a Chaotic NBA Cup Quarterfinal
So, let me walk you through what’s been happening in this wild NBA Cup quarterfinal between the Lakers and the Spurs — because this game has had everything: big names, big swings, and a whole lot of messy, stop-and-start basketball.
The Lakers came into this matchup at full strength, with LeBron James and Austin Reaves available after missing the previous meeting. Luka Dončić was leading the way as usual, and early on he was attacking the rim the same way he did in their last showdown, when he took a game-high 17 free throws. Tonight, he pushed his way to 35 points by the fourth quarter, banking in tough shots and keeping Los Angeles close. But San Antonio didn’t back down, even without Victor Wembanyama, who was ruled out again despite being close to returning. Spurs fans had at least one positive update: Jordan McLaughlin was expected back, giving them a bit more backcourt depth.
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The flow of the game, though, was clunky from the start. Players kept hitting the floor, collisions were constant, and the whistles never seemed far away. By the late third and early fourth quarter, the Spurs were simply sharper. San Antonio kept control with timely stops and quick bursts of scoring, especially in transition. De’Aaron Fox looked unstoppable at times — zooming coast to coast, blowing past defenders, and piling on the pressure. His ability to take over late in games is well-known, and it felt like he was saving his best for the final minutes again.
Marcus Smart became one of the unexpected storylines. The Spurs kept leaving him open, almost daring him to shoot, and he answered with seven made threes by the fourth quarter. Even so, the Lakers struggled to get stops. Every time Los Angeles scored, San Antonio punched back harder. Austin Reaves tried sparking a run with a big triple early in the fourth, assisted by LeBron, but the Spurs immediately responded with a 6–0 run that forced a timeout.
By the time the clock dipped under four minutes, the Spurs were still up double digits — and fans inside the arena had begun drifting toward the exits. The Lakers even went small in a last-ditch push, benching Deandre Ayton and running Smart with the starters, but the Spurs’ defense tightened just enough to keep Los Angeles at arm’s length.
All of this came on a night when Oklahoma City had already crushed Phoenix by 49 points to claim the first spot in the semifinals. The Lakers and Spurs were fighting for the chance to join them in Las Vegas, but San Antonio looked like the better-prepared, more balanced group throughout the second half.
Whether it was Luka’s frustration, the constant foul reviews, or the lingering question about whether the Lakers’ NBA Cup court had even been repaired in time — this game never found easy rhythm. But one thing was clear: the Spurs stayed in control when it mattered.
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