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The San Antonio Spurs’ Keita Bates-Diop reacts arsenic helium is fouled by the Lakers’ Jemerrio Jones, back, successful beforehand of the Lakers’ Isaiah Thomas during the archetypal fractional connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ LeBron James, left, drives past the San Antonio Spurs’ Keldon Johnson during the archetypal fractional connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Lakers’ Rajon Rondo handles the shot during the archetypal fractional of their crippled against the San Antonio Spurs connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Keldon Johnson, left, battles for a rebound with the Lakers’ Wayne Ellington during the archetypal fractional connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Lonnie Walker IV reacts aft making a 3-point changeable during the archetypal fractional of their crippled against the Lakers connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. The Spurs were 18 for 39 from 3-point scope successful their 138-110 win. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Lakers’ Talen Horton-Tucker drives toward the handbasket during the archetypal fractional of their crippled against the San Antonio Spurs connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Keita Bates-Diop is fouled by the Lakers’ Wayne Ellington during the archetypal fractional connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ LeBron James handles the shot during the archetypal fractional of their crippled against the San Antonio Spurs connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Lakers’ Carmelo Anthony, center, reaches for a escaped shot arsenic the San Antonio Spurs’ Keldon Johnson watches during the archetypal fractional connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Keita Bates-Diop scores implicit the Lakers’ Isaiah Thomas during the archetypal fractional connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ LeBron James, center, is defended by the San Antonio Spurs’ Jakob Poeltl, left, and Dejounte Murray during the archetypal fractional connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Lakers’ LeBron James drives to the handbasket during the archetypal fractional of their crippled against the San Antonio Spurs connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Keldon Johnson scores connected a layup past the Lakers’ Talen Horton-Tucker, center, and Dwight Howard during the archetypal fractional connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
San Antonio Spurs manager Gregg Popovich argues a telephone aft a timeout arsenic Keita Bates-Diop leaves the tribunal during the archetypal fractional of their crippled against the Lakers connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ LeBron James tries to artifact a changeable by the San Antonio Spurs’ Jakob Poeltl during the archetypal fractional connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Dejounte Murray shoots implicit the Lakers’ Carmelo Anthony during the archetypal fractional connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ LeBron James dunks during the archetypal fractional of their crippled against the San Antonio Spurs connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Keldon Johnson is fouled by Lakers halfway Dwight Howard during the archetypal fractional connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Lakers halfway Dwight Howard celebrates a antiaircraft play during the archetypal fractional of their crippled against the San Antonio Spurs connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Derrick White attempts a changeable successful beforehand of the Lakers’ Talen Horton-Tucker during the archetypal fractional connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ Talen Horton-Tucker handles the shot during the archetypal fractional of their crippled against the San Antonio Spurs connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Dejounte Murray reacts arsenic helium is stripped of the shot by Lakers halfway Dwight Howard, right, during the archetypal fractional connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ LeBron James, apical left, looks to walk portion nether unit from the San Antonio Spurs’ Jock Landale, center, and Keldon Johnson during the archetypal fractional connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. James had 36 points, 9 rebounds and six assists, but it wasn’t astir capable successful a 138-110 loss. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Lakers’ LeBron James smiles arsenic helium makes his mode down the tribunal during the archetypal fractional of their crippled against the San Antonio Spurs connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Lakers’ Isaiah Thomas drives to the handbasket arsenic the San Antonio Spurs’ Jock Landale, center, and Derrick White support during Thursday’s crippled astatine Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Lakers adjunct caput manager David Fizdale, moving the squad with Frank Vogel successful the COVID-19 protocols, watches play from the sidelines during Thursday’s crippled against the San Antonio Spurs astatine Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Lonnie Walker IV, right, drives past the Lakers’ Isaiah Thomas during the 2nd fractional connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
San Antonio Spurs manager Gregg Popovich listens to referee Justin Van Duyne during Thursday’s crippled against the Lakers astatine Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ LeBron James scores past the San Antonio Spurs’ Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson during Thursday’s crippled astatine Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Dejounte Murray, center, is double-teamed by the Lakers’ LeBron James, left, and Russell Westbrook during the 2nd fractional connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Lakers’ Russell Westbrook drives to the handbasket betwixt the San Antonio Spurs’ Keldon Johnson, right, and Keita Bates-Diop during Thursday’s crippled astatine Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ Russell Westbrook reacts aft a nonaccomplishment of possession during Thursday’s crippled against the San Antonio Spurs astatine Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ Talen Horton-Tucker drives to the handbasket arsenic the San Antonio Spurs’ Tre Jones defends during Thursday’s crippled astatine Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ Carmelo Anthony reacts arsenic helium loses a rebound to the San Antonio Spurs’ Dejounte Murray, left, and Keldon Johnson during Thursday’s crippled astatine Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ LeBron James, center, reacts to a foul telephone connected his squad during the 2nd fractional of their crippled against the San Antonio Spurs connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Lakers’ LeBron James argues a telephone with referee Justin Van Duyne during Thursday’s crippled against the San Antonio Spurs astatine Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ LeBron James, center, and DeAndre Jordan quality a telephone with referee Justin Van Duyne during Thursday’s crippled against the San Antonio Spurs astatine Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ LeBron James walks connected the tribunal during the 2nd fractional of their crippled against the San Antonio Spurs connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Keita Bates-Diop dunks during the 2nd fractional of their crippled against the Lakers connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Lakers’ Jemerrio Jones and the San Antonio Spurs’ Keita Bates-Diop scope for a rebound during Thursday’s crippled astatine Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Derrick White shoots portion pressured by the Lakers’ Isaiah Thomas during the 2nd fractional connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Lakers defender Russell Westbrook waits for a escaped propulsion during Thursday’s crippled against the San Antonio Spurs astatine Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Keita Bates-Diop, center, celebrates their 138-110 triumph implicit the Lakers arsenic helium walks disconnected the tribunal connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ Carmelo Anthony looks connected earlier during Thursday’s crippled against the San Antonio Spurs astatine Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Lakers halfway Dwight Howard warms up during a pregame presumption earlier their crippled against the San Antonio Spurs connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Davis Gaines sings the nationalist anthem earlier Thursday’s crippled betwixt the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs astatine Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Davis Gaines sings the nationalist anthem earlier Thursday’s crippled betwixt the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs astatine Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Davis Gaines sings the nationalist anthem earlier Thursday’s crippled betwixt the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs astatine Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Former Lakers Metta Sandiford-Artest smiles portion seated courtside during a crippled betwixt the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs connected Thursday nighttime astatine Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Lakers title trophies are displayed during a ceremonial to accidental farewell to the Staples Center sanction during Thursday’s crippled against the San Antonio Spurs. The Lakers did a fig of things to observe their archetypal 22 years successful the venue, which volition officially beryllium renamed Crypto.com Arena connected Christmas Day. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Lakers title trophies are displayed during a ceremonial to accidental farewell to the Staples Center sanction during Thursday’s crippled against the San Antonio Spurs. The Lakers did a fig of things to observe their archetypal 22 years successful the venue, which volition officially beryllium renamed Crypto.com Arena connected Christmas Day. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
From left, erstwhile Lakers Robert Horry, Metta Sandiford-Artest, Luke Walton, Byron Scott and Gary Payton airs for photos during a ceremonial to accidental farewell to the Staples Center sanction during Thursday’s crippled against the San Antonio Spurs. The Lakers did a fig of things to observe their archetypal 22 years successful the venue, which volition officially beryllium renamed Crypto.com Arena connected Christmas Day. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A Crypto.com Arena motion hangs extracurricular Staples Center earlier Thursday night’s crippled betwixt the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs. The venue volition officially beryllium renamed Crypto.com Arena connected Christmas Day. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A Crypto.com Arena motion hangs extracurricular Staples Center earlier Thursday night’s crippled betwixt the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs. The venue volition officially beryllium renamed Crypto.com Arena connected Christmas Day. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A Crypto.com Arena motion hangs extracurricular Staples Center earlier Thursday night’s crippled betwixt the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs. The venue volition officially beryllium renamed Crypto.com Arena connected Christmas Day. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
A Crypto.com Arena motion hangs extracurricular Staples Center earlier Thursday night’s crippled betwixt the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs. The venue volition officially beryllium renamed Crypto.com Arena connected Christmas Day. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES — It was fitting that connected Thursday night, the Lakers arsenic a franchise were mostly looking backmost fondly connected their 22 seasons astatine Staples Center.
It’s hard to consciousness arsenic lukewarm astir the contiguous future.
The San Antonio Spurs (13-18) ran implicit the Lakers, 138-110, successful a crippled that ne'er felt peculiarly close. LeBron James scored 36 points and Russell Westbrook had 30, but the supporting formed fell flat, with the Spurs’ seat outscoring their Lakers counterparts 69-20 and the Lakers surrendering the astir points they’ve fixed up successful regularisation this season.
It was striking however the Spurs, who the Lakers bushed with easiness connected Nov. 14, decimated the short-handed Lakers, hitting 18 3-pointers against their discombobulated defense. When asked what volition marque it better, James was blunt.
“We don’t request a afloat roster,” helium said. “We conscionable request a batch of our guys back.”
The four-game descent is the longest of the play truthful far, and portion the Lakers (16-17) mightiness person amended than a puncher’s accidental against the likewise banged-up Brooklyn Nets connected Christmas Day, the one-sided nonaccomplishment connected Thursday nighttime painted a grim representation of the franchise’s circumstances. They are winless since Anthony Davis sprained his genu successful Minnesota, an wounded that is expected to support the All-Star large antheral retired for astatine slightest 1 month.
The Lakers could not capitalize connected a valiant effort by their steadfast stars. James scored 23 of the team’s archetypal 45 points portion burying shots and driving successful for kick-outs astatine a superstar level. But it was wide aboriginal connected – arsenic San Antonio buried its hosts successful a barrage of 3-point baskets – that different 1 of his large performances would beryllium successful a vacuum.
Westbrook besides started to rally successful the 3rd quarter, erstwhile helium scored 17 of his points portion sprinting headlong toward the rim. The highest of this flurry was inactive frustratingly acold retired of scope of the Spurs: In speedy succession, Westbrook scored connected an and-one drive, past got the assemblage rolling with a 3-pointer from the helping to chopped the stubborn Spurs’ pb to nine.
“To the Spurs’ credit, they carved america up,” interim manager David Fizdale said. “Four quarters implicit 30 points. They truly dismantled america and did everything they needed to bash to triumph the game.
San Antonio, which led by treble digits for the bulk of the night, took some punches successful stride. The Spurs answered Westbrook’s baskets with a 3-pointer and a reverse layup by Keita Bates-Diop, who finished with 30 points.
Coming disconnected the bench, Bates-Diop deed each 11 of his shots, including 5 3-pointers. He outscored the Laker reserves by himself. The Spurs’ seat had 69 points total, highlighting conscionable however bladed the Lakers’ rotation has become, mostly owed to affirmative coronavirus tests.
The Lakers had 5 players successful the COVID-19 protocols connected Thursday night: Malik Monk, Avery Bradley, Austin Reaves, Kent Bazemore and Trevor Ariza. Ariza was lone added connected Thursday greeting aft playing his archetypal 2 games of the play pursuing a preseason ankle injury. Considering Ariza started the play 5 for 5 from the field, it was wide the Lakers could person utilized his stroke.
Westbrook rattled disconnected the challenges the Lakers person faced successful the past week-and-a-half, including Davis’ wounded and caller lineups each night. Though the Lakers were capable to commencement seasoned halfway Dwight Howard for the archetypal clip since helium rejoined the squad from protocols, it was different starting lineup that had ne'er played unneurotic before.
From the precocious the Lakers felt successful Dallas, erstwhile they won successful overtime, they’ve sunk a agelong way. But Westbrook thinks they’ll find a mode back. At immoderate point.
“It’s a batch of things that’s happened wrong the past week and a half,” helium said. “So yes I would accidental yes, we’ve had immoderate ups wherever we consciousness assured successful however we were moving, moving direction, our defence was great, we was moving successful a bully absorption defensively and I felt large astir it, truthful that’s wherefore I don’t panic, and that’s wherefore I’m optimistic astir our team.”
"We don't request a afloat roster. All our antiaircraft guys are successful protocols–Avery, Baze, TA, and Austin." LeBron discusses the lack of the #Lakers' antiaircraft cornerstones and looks up to the Christmas showdown with the Nets. @geeter3 pic.twitter.com/RrugnvQdIb
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) December 24, 2021
"Figure it out. That's each you tin bash is fig it out." Russell Westbrook connected the changeless alteration successful lineups and guys successful and retired of wellness and information protocols. @geeter3 pic.twitter.com/XlUORABoTj
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) December 24, 2021
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