The Los Angeles Lakers’ NBA Cup run ended abruptly on Wednesday night as the San Antonio Spurs delivered a stunning 132–119 upset at Crypto.com Arena, eliminating LA in the quarterfinals and exposing issues that have lingered beneath their strong record. Without Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs embraced the underdog role, outworking and outshooting a Lakers team that entered the tournament as one of the favorites.
Los Angeles had gone 4–0 in group play, powered by the trio of Luka Dončić, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves, but none of them could prevent the defensive unraveling that defined this loss. While the Spurs advance to face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday in Las Vegas, the Lakers (17–7) return to the drawing board, facing tough questions about whether elite offense alone can carry them to a title.
🔥 Spurs Exploit Lakers’ Defensive Weaknesses
This game was a blueprint for how to dismantle the Lakers’ defense.
San Antonio shot:
- 50.0% from the field
- 44.7% from three (17-of-38)
- 39 assists
- 52 points in the paint
- 22 second-chance points
The Lakers’ slow rotations, inconsistent communication, and repeated overreliance on drop coverage allowed the Spurs to dictate every offensive possession. Even LeBron James acknowledged the team’s shortcomings afterward: “We got caught watching too much. That’s not who we are.”
The loss also comes on the same night the Phoenix Suns, shorthanded without Devin Booker, shocked the 25–1 Thunder in Oklahoma City — a reminder that toughness and execution beat talent when the lights get bright.
The Lakers, who currently rank 22nd in defensive rating, were exposed again in the exact area many analysts have flagged all season.
📉 Reaves and Dončić Struggle at the Worst Time
The night turned especially sour due to rare off-games from LA’s two most reliable offensive engines.
Austin Reaves
- 15 points
- 6-of-16 FG
- 2-of-6 from three
- 7 turnovers
- 5 fouls
- –5 plus/minus
Usually a stabilizing force, Reaves forced shots early, lost rhythm, and became a turnover magnet against San Antonio’s pressure. It marked his second straight shaky performance — and it came on a night LA desperately needed him.
Luka Dončić
- 35 points
- 11-of-24 FG
- 10 turnovers
- 3-of-8 from deep
Despite the scoring, Dončić’s 10 turnovers fueled Spurs’ transition attacks and killed LA’s momentum repeatedly. Fatigue from heavy minutes and increased defensive attention was evident.
Combined, Dončić and Reaves posted below 31% true shooting, the lowest for the duo this season in a game they both played heavy minutes.
💥 Marcus Smart’s Career Night Overshadowed
Marcus Smart made his return count:
- 26 points
- 8-of-14 from three
- 3 steals
His third-quarter shooting barrage briefly kept LA afloat, but the bench collapse around him wiped out any momentum:
- Gabe Vincent: 0 points
- Jaxson Hayes: 1-of-10
- Bench total: 23 points (Spurs bench: 52)
LA's depth, one of the team’s most persistent concerns, was fully exposed.
📊 Box Score Snapshot
Spurs: 132
Lakers: 119
San Antonio won virtually every effort category — rebounds, assists, steals, offensive boards — despite missing their franchise cornerstone.
The complete stat lines revealed the same story the eye test did: the Spurs played harder, smarter, and with more discipline.
🔮 What’s Next for the Lakers?
For the second straight season, the Lakers exit the NBA Cup earlier than expected. Now 17–7, they remain firmly in the West’s upper tier — but this loss magnifies an uncomfortable truth:
Until the Lakers fix their defense and add sustainable two-way depth, their title ceiling remains capped.
LeBron put it simply: “One game doesn’t define us. But it wakes us up.”
Dončić echoed the sentiment: “Back to work. Defense first.”
As the Spurs celebrate their semifinal berth, the Lakers face another long stretch of the season knowing exactly what must change.
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