The Los Angeles Lakers gave a whole defensive lesson (93-81) to the masters of the League in that aspect, some San Antonio Spurs that came to overcome 19 points of disadvantage despite the absence of four relevant players.
Brandon Ingram was the best of the match with 26 points and Lonzo Ball contributed 18 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists. For the Spurs, who played without Kawhi Leonard, Rudy Gay, Danny Green or Tony Parker, the highlight was LaMarcus Aldridge with 20 points.
Pau Gasol added 9 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists in 37 minutes, while Manu Ginobili added 8 points and 4 assists in 21 minutes.
It is the first time this season that the Angelinos chain three wins in a row. The Lakers break a seven-game losing streak at home against San Antonio.
The Staples Center, as usual, received with a loud ovation to the Spanish on the same day that the media, covered by a tweet from Kobe Bryant, speculated with the possibility that his shirt with the number 16 hang some day in the roof of the pavilion.
His were the first points of the Texans, through a mate, but that action had no continuity and the Spurs, uninspired, were at the expense of Aldridge in attack in a very poor start of the game.
In fact, the 15 points scored by those of Gregg Popovich in the first 12 minutes were the lowest amount registered of an opponent of the Californians this season in the first quarter.
Both teams finished that period below 38 percent success and with a rip-off from the triple (3/12 for the Lakers and 0/3 for the Spurs). However, Luke Walton’s men reacted in the second quarter and placed 19 up (37-18) led by Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr.
Meanwhile, the Spurs still did not see a hoop (7/30, 23 percent) until the connection between Aldridge and Gasol began to carburize and left the visitors at six points (42-36) shortly before halftime.
The Spurs, as expected, came out with another face in the second half. They scored a partial 9-1 and with a triple of Bryn Forbes after Gasol’s assistance regained the advantage (52-53), although the Angelinos were not discouraged and, supported by huge Ingram and Ball, deployed the wings once more (63-55).
Another Texan push, this time with Forbes as a stiletto, put Popovich’s back into the ointment (75-73). And, once again, there was local reaction.
Without falling prey to the nerves and with less than 4 minutes left to play, Ingram and Nance Jr. built a 10-point cushion (85-75) that proved enough despite the last blows of his rival.
Data sheet:
93 – Los Angeles Lakers (20 + 29 + 24 + 25): Ball (18), Caldwell-Pope (10), Ingram (26), Randle (-), Lopez (4) -five start-up, Kuzma (10) , Ennis (-), Nance Jr. (14), Clarkson (5) and Hart (6).
81 – San Antonio Spurs (15 + 23 + 19 + 19): Anderson (6), Murray (14), Forbes (18), Aldridge (20), Gasol (9) -five start-up, Mills (-), Ginóbili (8), Bertans (2), Paul (-), White (4) and Costello (-).
Referees: Washington, Kindsay and Smith. Without eliminated.
Incidents: Regular season game played at the Staples Center, Los Angeles, before 18,997 spectators. Full.
