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Lakers Eliminated from NBA Cup as Spurs Expose Defensive Frailties

Posted : 11 December 2025

With a significant financial reward and a potential second NBA Cup in three seasons on the line, the Los Angeles Lakers were decisively beaten 132–119 by the San Antonio Spurs in Wednesday’s quarterfinal matchup. San Antonio relentlessly targeted L.A.’s weak perimeter coverage—already among the league’s worst—knocking down 17 of 38 three-point attempts and leading by as many as 24 points in the elimination game.

Beyond their outside shooting, the Spurs repeatedly pierced the Lakers’ interior defense, forcing frequent fouls and dominating from the free-throw line with a 29-of-36 performance compared with L.A.’s 17-for-23. San Antonio also punished the Lakers in transition, scoring 35 fast-break points—their highest total this season and the most the Lakers have conceded in that category.

The defeat echoed many of the Lakers’ previous heavy losses despite their strong 17–7 start to the season. It also came shortly after agent Rich Paul expressed doubts about L.A.’s long-term potential, stating on his new podcast that he did not believe the roster was built for a deep playoff run. LeBron James, however, dismissed such early postseason projections, emphasizing the importance of building winning habits over the course of the regular season.

Head coach JJ Redick acknowledged the heightened scrutiny surrounding the franchise and admitted that containing opposing guards remains a major issue. Luka Dončić, who scored 35 points in the loss, echoed those sentiments, stressing that the entire roster must defend more collectively. The Spurs, meanwhile, extended their winning streak to 12 games despite missing Victor Wembanyama due to injury.

For the Lakers, improvement must come from within, as no star defensive reinforcements are awaiting return. Austin Reaves summarized the team’s mindset, noting that confidence remains intact but insisting that success will only come if all five players commit defensively on every possession.

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