The Los Angeles Lakers fell to the San Antonio Spurs in a 126-102 defeat, marking their third consecutive loss. Lakers head coach JJ Redick provided a detailed postgame analysis, attributing the outcome to defensive lapses and turnovers that plagued his team throughout the contest.

The Spurs, led by Victor Wembanyama, Devin Vassell, and rookie Stephon Castle, dominated the game with balanced scoring. Each contributed 23 points, with Wembanyama adding eight rebounds and five assists. The Spurs capitalized on defensive breakdowns, scoring 66 points in the paint and converting 53.3% of their field goal attempts.

Redick highlighted the Lakers’ inability to contain drives to the basket, noting, “We gave up 73 points in the second half…everything was at the rim.” He emphasized that the lack of a low-man presence and poor closeouts allowed the Spurs to exploit defensive gaps.

Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 30 points and 13 rebounds, but the team committed 19 turnovers. LeBron James scored 18 points with eight assists but attempted only 11 shots, the fewest in any game this season.

The Spurs used a decisive 25-9 run in the fourth quarter to break open the game, which had been tied at the start of the period. Harrison Barnes scored 10 of his 17 points in the final quarter, while Chris Paul orchestrated the Spurs’ offense with 13 points and 10 assists.

During his press conference, Redick acknowledged the external challenges the Lakers faced, including wildfires that led to game postponements and disrupted routines. He admitted these factors likely impacted the team’s performance but stressed the importance of accountability.

Redick stated, “We’ve had real slippage defensively for three games now. We’ll focus on film and court work to address these issues.” Despite ranking among the top 10 defenses earlier in the season, the Lakers have struggled in recent games, allowing opponents to dictate the pace and exploit mismatches.

Offensively, the Lakers faced difficulties with spacing and decision-making. Redick noted, “Throwing passes in tight spaces when Wemby’s around is just not a good idea.” The Spurs’ defense recorded nine steals and limited the Lakers to 44.8% shooting.

Reflecting on the loss, Redick credited Wembanyama and Chris Paul for their sportsmanship. Both players interacted with Redick’s children after the game, providing signed jerseys to replace those lost in the wildfires. Redick expressed gratitude for the gesture, calling Paul “a brother” and recognizing the tight-knit NBA community.

The loss dropped the Lakers’ record to 20-17, while the Spurs improved to 19-19, snapping their three-game losing streak. Redick acknowledged the challenge ahead, saying, “We’ll prep for Miami, but our focus will be on improving our group defensively.”