The semifinals of the NBA Cup in Las Vegas are set.
The San Antonio Spurs held off the Los Angeles Lakers Wednesday, Dec. 10 in a 132-119 victory in the final game of the NBA Cup quarterfinals. San Antonio had seven different players reach double figures in scoring, but guard Stephon Castle posted a 30-point double-double with 10 rebounds and 6 assists.
He, alongside fellow speedy guard De’Aaron Fox, led the San Antonio attack, which prioritized speed and transition offense. The Spurs scored 27 fast-break points and 16 off of turnovers. That San Antonio has done this without phenom Victor Wembanyama is all the more impressive, though Wembanyama is nearing his return and may be available for the rest of the NBA Cup.
The Spurs have booked their trip to the semifinals Saturday, Dec. 13, where they will play the 24-1 Oklahoma City Thunder.
Luka Dončić led the Lakers with 35 points on 11-of-24 shooting and added 8 assists and 5 rebounds.
Spurs vs. Lakers highlights
Lakers making it interesting late
Los Angeles went on an 11-0 run to close the deficit to 8 points late in the fourth. Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox ended the run with a corner 3, but Los Angeles has given itself a chance to make this a game late.
End Q3: Spurs 104, Lakers 87
Needing to mount a comeback, the Laker offense sputtered in the third.
Los Angeles finished the first half with momentum after it launched a scoring run, but the Lakers missed 9 of their first 13 shots in the third. That allowed the Spurs, who stayed on the offensive, to build their lead.
All game long, the Lakers have struggled to defend in transition, getting back slowly. This has led to San Antonio attacking the basket, drawing contact, and getting to the line; the Spurs have attempted 32 free throws, doubling up L.A.’s 16.
San Antonio is also beating the Lakers in fast break points (24-15), bench points (42-16) and points off turnovers (11-2).
WATCH: LeBron James posterizes Luke Kornet
End Q2: Spurs 70, Lakers 58
The Lakers appeared to have no answer for what San Antonio is doing on offense, but they did course correct behind their offense.
The Spurs — behind their speedy and athletic trio of guards De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper — are racing out in transition, getting paint touches and attacking the rim or setting up kick-out shots.
The Spurs eventually opened an 18-point lead, their biggest of the game. Los Angeles, however, clogged the paint and did a better job of contesting shots. That led to better offense for Los Angeles, though the Lakers often found themselves distracted with the officials.
Several times in the second quarter, the Lakers complained to the officiating crew, trying to leverage for calls. The Spurs used that to their advantage and pushed pace in transition even more.
Luka Dončić leads all players with 24 points on 8-of-17 shooting. LeBron James has added 12, though he brought the crowd to its feet with a thunderous dunk over Spurs center Luke Kornet.
The Spurs have shot 10-of-20 from 3-point range.
End Q1: Spurs 39, Lakers 30
After a shaky start to the game, the Spurs have shored up their low-post defense and have dictated the pace and tempo of this game.
San Antonio gave up 12 points in the paint in the first few minutes of the game and followed that up by allowing just 4 more the rest of the quarter. It also helped the Spurs that backup forward Keldon Johnson came out on an absolute heater.
Johnson played just 5:24 in the period, but hit all three of his 3-pointers and dropped 13 points in the first. He leads all scorers, while point guard De’Aaron Fox added 8 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists.
Luka Dončić led the way for the Lakers with 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting. The difference thus far has been San Antonio’s efficiency in pushing the pace off of turnovers; the Spurs have scored 7 points off turnovers, compared to the Lakers, who have none.
Spurs-Lakers underway
Los Angeles is taking advantage of Victor Wembanyama’s absence.
As Wembanyama continues to nurse a calf strain, his defensive presence in the paint is gone, and the Lakers are clearly looking to exploit that. Twelve of L.A.’s 15 points have come in the paint.
San Antonio is going to drop coverage on pick-and-rolls, which is creating space for Laker attackers. Los Angeles is taking an early 15-11 lead midway through the first.
Lakers starting lineup
LeBron James
Rui Hachimura
Deandre Ayton
Austin Reaves
Luka Doncic
Spurs starting lineup
De’Aaron Fox
Stephon Castle
Devin Vassell
Harrison Barnes
Luke Kornet
What time is Spurs vs. Lakers NBA Cup game today?
The Los Angeles Lakers will host the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. local) at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Watch NBA Cup games with Amazon Prime Video
How to watch Spurs vs. Lakers NBA Cup game: TV, live streaming
The game between the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers will be live streamed nationally on Amazon Prime Video.
Date: Dec. 10
Time: 10 p.m. ET
Location: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles)
TV: None
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
Lakers will not use NBA Cup court vs. Spurs
The Los Angeles Lakers will not use the alternate NBA Cup court for their quarterfinal game against the San Antonio Spurs at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
The decision not to use the yellow alternate court was made ‘out of an abundance of caution.’
Lakers star Luka Doncic was among the players who had issues slipping on the court during the team’s 135-118 victory over the L.A. Clippers on Nov. 25. — James H. Williams