Driving a 3-game shedding streak and again underneath the .500 mark, the still-ascending San Antonio Spurs come right into a back-to-back set towards the Los Angeles Lakers in want of some momentum. At 20-16 the Lakers have in no way been otherworldly and are on no person’s brief listing to win the title this 12 months, however they nonetheless have two guys in LeBron James and Anthony Davis who’re greater than able to successful any recreation on any given evening. Los Angeles additionally appears just a little completely different in comparison with when the Spurs performed them in November (each losses), having not too long ago moved off of much-maligned guard D’Angelo Russell.
Tonight’s recreation comes at a time of utmost uncertainty, as Los Angeles offers with the horrific wildfires which have engulfed the realm during the last a number of days. This was purported to be the second recreation of a miniseries between the 2 golf equipment, however Saturday’s recreation was postponed. Within the spirit of head coach Gregg Popovich, this unlucky state of affairs is one more reminder in a life stuffed with them that there are issues in life a lot greater than basketball. Nonetheless, there’s a number of pleasure that the sport can nonetheless deliver to folks, even throughout darkish occasions.
San Antonio Spurs (18-19) at Los Angeles Lakers (20-16)
January 13, 2025 | 9:30 PM CT
Watch: FanDuel Sports activities, NBA TV| Hear: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Accidents: Jeremy Sochan, again (everyday)
Lakers Accidents: LeBron James, foot (possible), Jalen Hood-Schifino, hamstrung (OUT), Cam Reddish, again (questionable), Christian Wooden, knee (OUT), Jarred Vanderbilt, foot (OUT)
What to look at for
Victor Wembanyama struggled mightily within the loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. He took simply 10 photographs in 33 minutes whereas being hounded many of the evening by Giannis Antetokoumpo and didn’t get to the free throw line in any respect. Wembanyama may have rather more success on the perimeter tonight towards Anthony Davis than he did in Milwaukee. Davis is a perennial DPOY candidate, however he performs a lot in a different way than Antetokoumpo does on that finish of the ground.
Austin Reaves has scored 20 or extra in 6 of his final 10 video games, together with a career-high 35 level outing within the Lakers’ loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 4th 12 months guard is Los Angeles’ de facto third banana and he performs his function effectively. That features taking his open appears off of penetration by James and Davis, chopping exhausting and infrequently, and even placing the ball on the ground and attacking the paint if he has to. He’s additionally greater than able to bringing the ball up the court docket and is the sort of participant that may deliver a workforce again from a deficit in a rush if he will get going.
Devin Vassell continues to be within the mom of all slumps. He’s capturing 37% from the sphere and simply 22% from past the arc and is averaging slightly below 14 factors in his final 10 video games. One in every of their finest shooters, San Antonio desperately wants him to begin pulling down his photographs in the event that they wish to gradual this 3-game skid after what was arguably the most important win of the season towards the Denver Nuggets. One factor to think about: Vassell spent the summer season rehabbing after getting surgical procedure on his foot and didn’t make his debut till November ninth. Meaning no coaching camp and certain little or no heavy conditioning work coming into the season. Possibly the legs are a problem?
The Lakers haven’t performed since Tuesday evening, a street loss to a really depleted Dallas Mavericks workforce, a loss that some would say was embarrassing given the expertise degree of Davis and the now 40-years-old-but-still-spectacular Lebron James. Whereas the wildfire state of affairs is the principle problem on all people’s thoughts, from a basketball perspective the Lakers want to get again on monitor identical to San Antonio is.
For the Lakers fan’s perspective, please go to Silver Display screen and Roll.
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