A number of the great vibes across the San Antonio Spurs’ 5-0 begin started to shift after a 116-97 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday. Not solely have been the Spurs dismantled by a short-handed Suns squad, however additionally they misplaced Dylan Harper to a calf pressure that ought to sideline him for a few weeks. They’ll have an opportunity to bounce again and reclaim these good vibes with some reinforcements becoming a member of them in Los Angeles in opposition to the Lakers.
The Spurs have modified the damage designation of some key gamers for the primary time this season. Jeremy Sochan, Kelly Olynyk, and Lindy Waters III are all questionable for Wednesday evening’s recreation. De’Aaron Fox and Luke Kornet stay out with the newly injured Harper. San Antonio’s depth is dwindling earlier than its eyes, so any assist they will get will likely be wanted, particularly in opposition to a Lakers workforce that has gained 4 video games in a row.
Los Angeles has accomplished a lot of their successful whereas being short-handed. LeBron James has but to go well with up this season. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have each missed time. Doncic will play on Wednesday, whereas Reaves is questionable. Each are having unimaginable seasons. Doncic is averaging 41.3 factors, 11.5 rebounds, and eight.3 assists, whereas Reaves is placing up 31.3 factors and 9.3 assists per recreation. They’ve pushed the Lakers’ offense to a top-10 ranking within the NBA.
Sochan’s return couldn’t come at a greater time, because the Spurs will want their greatest defensive effort to decelerate the Lakers.
November fifth, 2025 | 9 PM CT
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Spurs Accidents: Dylan Harper – Out (calf), De’Aaron Fox – Out (hamstring), Luke Kornet – Out (ankle), Kelly Olynyk – Questionable (heel), Jeremy Sochan – Questionable (wrist), Lindy Waters III – Questionable (eye), Harrison Ingram – Questionable (G League), Riley Minix – Questionable (G League)
Lakers Accidents: LeBron James – Out (again), Maxi Kleber – Out (belly), Adou Thiero – Out (knee), Gabe Vincent – Out (ankle), Jaxson Hayes – Possible (ankle), Austin Reaves – Questionable (groin)
Sochan will likely be a vital determine for the workforce on Wednesday evening. He’s traditionally gotten the Luka project and performed admirably. There is no such thing as a such factor as a “Luka-stopper,” however Sochan can put up a reasonably good struggle together with his mixture of energy, dimension, athleticism, and tenacity. It’ll be attention-grabbing to see what number of minutes he performs, given it’s probably his first recreation again from damage. On one other evening, San Antonio may ease him into it, however the Spurs are operating out of our bodies, and so they’ll want him. It’ll even be attention-grabbing to see how he suits into the Spurs’ offensive unit. His reducing must be a giant weapon for San Antonio if the Lakers ship a number of defenders at Victor Wembanyama.
Wednesday would be the first glimpse we get on the newly acquired Olynyk. The veteran middle is a giant physique who can shoot the ball from three. He’s not identified for his protection, however he has extra dimension than Bismack Biyombo, who had been manning the backup middle place in Olynyk and Kornet’s absence. Olynyk doesn’t fairly meet Kornet’s requirements as a backup huge, however he ought to give the Spurs one other offensive weapon who can area the ground subsequent to Wembanyama, ought to they wish to play two bigs.
Groups have been deploying an analogous technique to cease Wembanyama. Guard him with a smaller wing defender who can get leverage and sustain with him on the perimeter, and ship a double workforce just about as quickly as he catches the ball. Wembanyama and the Spurs have struggled to adapt to the defensive consideration the famous person has gotten. Stephon Fort and Harper have been the one gamers who’ve taken benefit of the lanes out there to them as groups concentrate on Wemby. The workforce round him should reap the benefits of these alternatives, nevertheless it’s the famous person huge man who will take San Antonio the furthest. He should alter to extra defensive consideration and discover a solution to influence the sport on the offensive finish.
