The third quarter was costly
The Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated from the NBA Cup after losing 130-106 to the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night. Los Angeles entered the game with momentum, but a sharp decline in the third quarter ended their chances. The Spurs went on a 45-22 run during that period, and the Lakers never recovered.
The Spurs pushed the tempo and kept the Lakers off balance. Los Angeles struggled to match the Spurs on both ends of the floor. The Lakers also had trouble defending the paint, which gave the Spurs consistent scoring opportunities.
LeBron shows frustration
LeBron James tried to lead the team’s offense and scored 23 points, but he expressed disappointment after the loss. “We didn’t match their urgency in the second half,” he said. His frustration reflected the team’s difficulty executing.
Anthony Davis scored 19 points, but the Lakers were unable to create a consistent rhythm. Their defensive rotations often struggled, allowing the Spurs to produce quality performances.
Playtime in Los Angeles!
The winner of Lakers/Spurs will go to Vegas to face the Thunder! pic.twitter.com/GuXuUEvC9p
— NBA (@NBA) December 11, 2025
Spurs take control behind strong balance
The Spurs had a balanced performance. Devin Vassell scored a team-high 28 points and Victor Wembanyama also scored 24 points. The Spurs went on offense early in the game, forcing the Lakers into a tough matchup.
Wembanyama also made an impact on defense. His presence changed several drives and helped the Spurs maintain control after building a double-digit lead. The Lakers tried using smaller lineups to combat his length, but none of those adjustments slowed him down.
What this means for the Lakers
The loss knocked Los Angeles out of the NBA Cup, a tournament they were hoping to win after winning their first title last season. Their exit raises questions about consistency, especially defensively. Head coach Dalvin Hamm emphasized the effort, saying the team had to “stay connected and stay disciplined.”
The Lakers now turn their attention back to the regular season. They still have a solid record, but mistakes like San Antonio’s could cause problems later. As key games in the Western Conference approach, the team must tighten its defensive structure and find more stable scoring points outside of its stars.
