Breaking from Los Angeles: San Antonio stunned the Lakers 132-119 in the NBA Cup quarterfinals, and a rookie stole the night. Stephon Castle, in just his second game back from injury, ripped through L.A. for 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists. He drilled a dagger three with 1:41 left, then slammed the door with poise you do not expect from a first year player. The Lakers are out. The Spurs are moving on. 🏀
Instant Game Recap
The Lakers entered unbeaten in group play. They left with hard questions. Luka Dončić scored 35 with 8 assists and kept L.A. in range. Marcus Smart, back from injury, poured in 26 and brought edge. LeBron James fought on the glass for 19 points and 15 rebounds. Austin Reaves added 15, 8, and 7 in a busy night.
It was not enough. San Antonio attacked in waves, and the Spurs bench outscored the Lakers reserves 48-31. That gap told the story. When L.A. sat a star, the floor tilted. Keldon Johnson set the tone early with a burst of first quarter buckets, and the ball never stuck for San Antonio. The Lakers rallied late, but Castle answered every push, capped by that cold three from the left wing with the clock bleeding.
Celebrities ringed the court, including Jay Z and Blue Ivy. The building had that playoff snap. The rookie owned it.
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Final: Spurs 132, Lakers 119. Stephon Castle 30, 10, and 6, plus the clutch three with 1:41 to go.
How San Antonio Took It
The Spurs won with pace control and balance. They spread the floor, drove closeouts, and trusted the extra pass. Castle was the engine. He hunted switches, hit pull ups, and crashed the glass. His calm late in the fourth was striking. The Spurs also leaned on depth. Fresh legs hit timely threes and kept bodies on Dončić and James. Every Lakers run met a clean San Antonio answer, often from a reserve.
Defensively, the Spurs mixed coverages and showed bodies at the point of attack. They lived with tough twos, protected the paint, and chased shooters off the line. That discipline traveled into the final minutes, when they contested without fouling and secured the long rebounds that had burned L.A. all night.
San Antonio’s second unit did not chase hero shots, it hunted high value looks early in the clock.
What This Says About the Lakers
This loss exposes two old problems, depth and perimeter defense. The starting talent is elite, but the gaps behind it are loud. When the game sped up, L.A.’s point of attack defense leaked, and rotations arrived a beat late. The Spurs turned those seams into rhythm threes and straight line drives.
Here are fixes the Lakers can make now:
- Stagger Luka and LeBron more, keep one star handling every minute.
- Hand Smart the keys to the bench group, add shooters around him.
- Add a rangy wing for size on the perimeter, even in a 15 minute role.
- Tighten screen navigation and mix in more drop and late switch to protect the paint.
If the perimeter stays soft, no scheme will hold. The bench must defend or the stars will wear down.
There is also an identity choice. The Lakers want to punish in the half court, yet the bench needs pace to live. That can work if the staff splits lineups by style and leans into what each group does best. More two big looks can stabilize rebounds. More five out units can juice spacing for the reserves.
What Comes Next
The Spurs advance to face the Thunder in Las Vegas on Saturday. It is a statement chance for a young core that is finding its voice, and Castle just introduced himself to the national stage. The rookie handled pressure, handled the moment, and then handled the mic like he has been here.
For the Lakers, it is back to the regular season, Phoenix on Sunday. The room was calm but focused postgame. In a classy touch, LeBron sent Castle a personalized jersey as a nod to his night. Respect was earned on both sides. Now the work starts, roster and rotation tweaks included.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was the final score?
A: Spurs 132, Lakers 119 in the NBA Cup quarterfinals.
Q: Who was the best player on the floor?
A: Spurs rookie Stephon Castle, with 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Q: Why did the Lakers lose?
A: Bench scoring and perimeter defense. Spurs reserves won 48-31, and San Antonio got clean looks.
Q: What is next for each team?
A: Spurs face the Thunder in the semifinals. Lakers host the Suns next in the regular season.
Q: Did the game have a key late moment?
A: Yes. Castle hit a clutch three with 1:41 left that broke L.A.’s last push.
Conclusion: The NBA Cup delivered a real upset and a real arrival. San Antonio’s kids grew up in prime time, and Stephon Castle took a bow. The Lakers still have the star power to chase June, but tonight underlined the fixes they must make. December exposed the leaks. Spring will decide if they patched them.
