The San Antonio Spurs outlasted the Los Angeles Lakers 132-119 to secure their ticket to the NBA Cup semifinal round on Wednesday.
Spurs guard Stephon Castle dropped 30 points, and De’Aaron Fox with 20 points, who led their team to maintain the double-digit lead for most of the final three quarters. Keldon Johnson also contributed 17 points and eight rebounds.
Castle returned exceptionally in his second game back from a 10-game absence with a hip injury, contributing 10 rebounds and six assists.
On the other hand, Lakers star Luka Doncic scored 35 points, and LeBron James contributed an almost triple-double with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists, as the Lakers lost for only the third time in 12 games.
Marcus Smart reached a season-high 26 points with eight three-pointers for the Lakers, and Austin Reaves had 15 points.
The Spurs have won nine of their last 12 overall, tying the Lakers with a 17-7 win-loss record, and looking forward to challenging the defending champion in their NBA Cup semifinals.
San Antonio made a 17-2 run and jumped to an 18-point lead in the second quarter, with Castle and Harrison Barnes exploiting Los Angeles’ season-long struggles in perimeter shooting defense.
Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama already missed his 12th straight game with a calf injury, but he traveled to a road game with the team.
The Lakers won the inaugural NBA Cup in 2023 and went unbeaten through group play this fall before facing the Spurs.
Now San Antonio is set to face the defending champion Oklahoma City in the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas on Saturday.
