Game ID: 22300813
San Antonio Spurs @ Los Angeles Lakers
Friday, February 23, 2024 at 10:30 PM ET
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
LAL 30 36 31 26 123SAS 26 33 31 28 118
LAL vs SAS ScoutingLAL vs SAS Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
LAL availability going into 2/09 · back-to-backOUT Reddish missed 8 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 3 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 25 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Davis back 2/03 after 2, 37 min since (104% of 36)
NEW Hayes 12 to 20 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 2/13 · 3 days' restOUT Reddish missed 9 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 4 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 26 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Davis back 2/03 after 2, 35 min since (98% of 36)
NEW Christie 14 to 21 min over the last 4
NEW Hayes 12 to 18 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 2/14 · back-to-backOUT Reddish missed 10 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 5 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 27 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Christie missed 2 since 2/09, out tonight
BACK Davis back 2/03 after 2, 34 min since (94% of 36)
LAL availability going into 2/22 · 7 days' restOUT Reddish missed 11 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 6 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 28 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Christie missed 3 since 2/09, returns tonight: 29 min (204% of 14)
NEW Hachimura 27 to 33 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 2/23 · back-to-backOUT James missed 2 since 2/14, returns tonight: 34 min (96% of 36)
OUT Reddish missed 12 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 7 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 29 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Christie back 2/22 after 3, 29 min since (204% of 14)
NEW Hachimura 27 to 34 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 2/25 · 1 day's restOUT Reddish missed 13 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 8 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 30 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Wood missed 2 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK James back 2/23 after 2, 34 min since (96% of 36)
BACK Christie back 2/22 after 3, 21 min since (149% of 14)
NEW Hachimura 27 to 33 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 2/28 · 2 days' restOUT Reddish missed 14 since 1/25, returns tonight: 20 min (96% of 20)
OUT Vanderbilt missed 9 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 31 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Wood missed 3 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK James back 2/23 after 2, 36 min since (100% of 36)
BACK Christie back 2/22 after 3, 16 min since (112% of 14)
LAL availability going into 2/29 · back-to-backOUT Vanderbilt missed 10 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 32 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Wood missed 4 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK James back 2/23 after 2, 36 min since (101% of 36)
BACK Reddish back 2/28 after 14, 20 min since (96% of 20)
BACK Christie back 2/22 after 3, 12 min since (84% of 14)
LAL availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Vanderbilt missed 11 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 33 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Wood missed 5 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK James back 2/23 after 2, 37 min since (103% of 36)
BACK Reddish back 2/28 after 14, 12 min since (58% of 20)
BACK Christie back 2/22 after 3, 11 min since (79% of 14)
SAS availability going into 2/10 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 8 since 1/26, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 4 since 2/02, returns tonight: 12 min (94% of 13)
OUT Cissoko missed 20 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 2/03 after 2, 24 min since (80% of 30)
BACK Collins back 2/02 after 3, 21 min since (93% of 22)
BACK Branham back 1/31 after 3, 14 min since (65% of 21)
SAS availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 9 since 1/26, returns tonight: 6 min (46% of 14)
OUT Cissoko missed 21 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 2/03 after 2, 25 min since (85% of 30)
BACK Collins back 2/02 after 3, 18 min since (80% of 22)
BACK Barlow back 2/10 after 4, 12 min since (94% of 13)
SAS availability going into 2/14 · 1 day's restOUT Cissoko missed 22 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 2/03 after 2, 26 min since (87% of 30)
BACK Graham back 2/12 after 9, 6 min since (46% of 14)
BACK Barlow back 2/10 after 4, 12 min since (94% of 13)
SAS availability going into 2/22 · 7 days' restOUT Barlow missed 2 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 23 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Graham back 2/12 after 9, 6 min since (43% of 14)
NEW Wesley 14 to 21 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 2/23 · back-to-backOUT Barlow missed 3 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 24 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Graham back 2/12 after 9, 6 min since (43% of 14)
NEW Wesley 14 to 21 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 2/25 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 2 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 4 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 25 since 1/02, out tonight
SAS availability going into 2/27 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 3 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 5 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 26 since 1/02, out tonight
SAS availability going into 2/29 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 4 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 6 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 27 since 1/02, out tonight
SAS availability going into 3/03 · 2 days' restOUT Graham missed 5 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 7 since 2/12, returns tonight: 0 min (3% of 13)
OUT Cissoko missed 28 since 1/02, returns tonight: 0 min (3% of 12)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 119, shooting 52 percent and 38 from three, 26 free throws a game; Davis at 27 and James at 24 a game. They have lost the glass by 7 a night. Without James (2 straight), Reddish (12 straight), Vanderbilt (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 118, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 18 free throws a game; Vassell at 23 and Wembanyama at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the line, where the Lakers take 26 free throws a game to San Antonio's 18 and the arc, the Lakers at 38 percent from three to San Antonio's 33. Call it the Lakers 121, San Antonio 114.
2/09 vs NOP 139-122 — LAL notes
LAL won 139-122. LAL shot 56% (49 of 88) to NOP's 52%, 14 of 31 from three, and went to the line 32 times to NOP's 23 — 27 points from the stripe to their 19. LAL turned it over 7 times to NOP's 13. Russell led with 30 (9 of 19, 6 of 13 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Reaves added 27, James 21. The hinge was Q2, 51-35: LAL came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 13, and the lead reached 20. Hachimura was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
2/13 vs DET 125-111 — LAL notes
LAL won 125-111. LAL shot 51% (43 of 84) to DET's 42%, 14 of 35 from three, and went to the line 30 times to DET's 17 — 25 points from the stripe to their 13. LAL turned it over 15 times to DET's 10, and DET turned those into 8 steals. James led with 25 (9 of 15, 3 of 6 from three); Russell added 21, Davis 20. The hinge was Q2, 37-24: a lead of 10 became 23. Reaves was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
2/14 @ UTA 138-122 — LAL notes
LAL won 138-122. LAL shot 57% (52 of 91) to UTA's 49%, 14 of 31 from three, and went to the line 24 times to UTA's 13 — 20 points from the stripe to their 10. Davis led with 37 (13 of 25, 1 of 3 from three, 10 of 13 at the line); Hachimura added 36, Reaves 22. The hinge was Q3, 38-23: a lead of 1 became 16, and the lead reached 23. Hachimura was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
2/22 @ GSW 110-128 — LAL notes
LAL lost 110-128. LAL shot 49% (43 of 88) to GSW's 47%, 10 of 35 from three, and went to the line 21 times to GSW's 14 — 14 points from the stripe to their 12. Davis led with 27 (11 of 19, 5 of 6 at the line); Russell added 18, Reaves 16. Q4 was theirs, 28-30, but the other 3 periods went 98-82 against them. Hachimura's -28 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/23 vs SAS 123-118 — LAL notes
LAL won 123-118. LAL shot 52% (49 of 95) to SAS's 44%, 11 of 27 from three. James led with 30 (13 of 22, 2 of 3 from three); Davis added 28, Russell 22. The hinge was Q1, 30-26: from level to 4 ahead, and the lead reached 18. James was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
2/25 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 31 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Booker at 25 a game. Without Beal (3 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 120, shooting 53 percent and 40 from three, 25 free throws a game; Davis at 26 and James at 25 a game. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Reddish (13 straight), Vanderbilt (8 straight), Vincent (30 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 15 times a game to the Lakers' 11 and the arc, the Lakers at 40 percent from three to Phoenix's 34. Call it Phoenix 119, the Lakers 117, the Lakers keeping it close.
2/28 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Leonard at 20 and Harden at 18 a game. 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 120, shooting 52 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; James at 28 and Davis at 27 a game. They have lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Reddish (14 straight), Vanderbilt (9 straight), Vincent (31 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-0 a night and the Lakers minus-7 and the arc, the Lakers at 39 percent from three to the Clippers' 34. Call it the Clippers 118, the Lakers 117, the Lakers keeping it close.
2/29 vs WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 121, shooting 53 percent and 39 from three, 16 free throws a game; James at 31 and Davis at 27 a game. They have lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Vanderbilt (10 straight), Vincent (32 straight), Wood (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 129, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Kuzma at 25 and Poole at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Avdija (3 straight), Champagnie (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Lakers allowing 121 a night to Washington's 129 and the turnovers, Washington giving it away 15 times a game to the Lakers' 11. Call it the Lakers 123, Washington 116.
3/02 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 122, shooting 52 percent and 37 from three, 16 free throws a game; James at 31 and Davis at 27 a game. They have lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Vanderbilt (11 straight), Vincent (33 straight), Wood (5 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 104, shooting 52 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jokić at 23 and Porter Jr. at 22 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Denver allowing 104 a night to the Lakers' 122 and the glass, where Denver has been plus-4 a night and the Lakers minus-4. Call it Denver 117, the Lakers 114, the Lakers keeping it close.
2/10 @ BKN 103-123 — SAS notes
SAS lost 103-123. SAS shot 40% (36 of 91) to BKN's 56%, 11 of 34 from three, and went to the line 21 times to BKN's 11 — 20 points from the stripe to their 8. Wembanyama led with 21 (7 of 16, 3 of 6 from three); Johnson added 19, Vassell 17. Q4 was theirs, 28-30, but the other 3 periods went 93-75 against them. Jones's -22 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/12 @ TOR 122-99 — SAS notes
SAS won 122-99. SAS shot 53% (46 of 87) to TOR's 40%, 11 of 30 from three, and went to the line 23 times to TOR's 16 — 19 points from the stripe to their 13. Wembanyama led with 27 (10 of 14, 2 of 4 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Vassell added 25, Sochan 16. The hinge was Q2, 33-22: a lead of 6 became 17, and the lead reached 31. Johnson was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
2/14 @ DAL 93-116 — SAS notes
SAS lost 93-116. SAS took 8 more shots (100 to 92), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 36% to DAL's 53%, 10 of 40 from three. The glass went 44-55 against them. Wembanyama led with 26 (10 of 21, 2 of 6 from three); Branham added 19, Vassell 11. Q1 was theirs, 32-25, but the other 3 periods went 91-61 against them. They led by as many as 15. Johnson's -27 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/22 @ SAC 122-127 — SAS notes
SAS lost 122-127. SAS shot 51% (50 of 98) to SAC's 56%, 11 of 25 from three. Vassell led with 32 (13 of 18, 3 of 4 from three); Wembanyama added 19, Johnson 18. Q1 was theirs, 32-30, but the other 3 periods went 97-90 against them.
2/23 @ LAL 118-123 — SAS notes
SAS lost 118-123. SAS shot 44% (42 of 96) to LAL's 52%, 15 of 38 from three. Wembanyama led with 27 (7 of 16, 3 of 8 from three, 10 of 11 at the line); Branham added 17, Sochan 15. Q4 was theirs, 28-26, the deficit cut from 7 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 97-90 against them. Johnson's -13 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/25 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 130, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Sexton at 22 and Markkanen at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Juzang (4 straight). 2 days' rest. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 118, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 24 and Vassell at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-7 a night and San Antonio minus-2 and the defense, San Antonio allowing 118 a night to Utah's 130. Call it Utah 120, San Antonio 117, San Antonio keeping it close.
2/27 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 100, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Edwards at 31 and Towns at 22 a game. 2 days' rest. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 24 and Vassell at 21 a game. That is 4 straight losses. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 100 a night to San Antonio's 119 and the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-4 a night and San Antonio minus-1. Call it Minnesota 118, San Antonio 107, Minnesota by 11.
2/29 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 22 and Vassell at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. One day's rest. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 128 a night and allowing 106, shooting 53 percent and 46 from three, 19 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 32 and Jal. Williams at 22 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 106 a night to San Antonio's 122 and the arc, OKC at 46 percent from three to San Antonio's 37. Call it OKC 122, San Antonio 111, OKC by 11.
3/03 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; Vassell at 24 and Wembanyama at 23 a game. 2 days' rest. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 17 free throws a game; Siakam at 19 and Mathurin at 18 a game. One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, San Antonio at 43 percent from three to Indiana's 36 and the turnovers, San Antonio giving it away 15 times a game to Indiana's 12. Call it Indiana 121, San Antonio 119, San Antonio keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
SASBW B. Wesley
CO C. Osman
DV D. Vassell
JC J. Champagnie
JS J. Sochan
KJ K. Johnson
MB M. Branham
SM S. Mamukelashvili
TJ T. Jones
VW V. Wembanyama
ZC Z. Collins
LALAD A. Davis
AR A. Reaves
DR D. Russell
JH J. Hayes
JH J. Hood-Schifino
LJ L. James
MC M. Christie
RH R. Hachimura
SD S. Dinwiddie
TP T. Prince
SAS/LAL the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
LeBron scores 30 points, Davis handles Wembanyama's 5x5 effort in Lakers' 123-118 win over Spurs
LOS ANGELES -- — LeBron James had 30 points, nine assists and seven rebounds and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame Victor Wembanyama 's historic “5x5” statistical performance for their seventh victory in nine games, 123-118 over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night.
Wembanyama had 27 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in his first road game against the Lakers. The French rookie sensation added five blocked shots and five steals, making him the youngest player in NBA history and the 15th overall to achieve the rare 5x5 — at least five points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals in one game.
“He doesn't have a ceiling,” James said of Wembanyama. “He can do whatever he wants to do in his career. It seems like he enjoys the game. It seems like he puts the work in, just from the outside looking in. ... I said a long time ago how special he was, and it's really that simple.”
Wembanyama fell one one assist shy of a 5x5 game in Sacramento on Thursday night, only to hit the mark one night later in Los Angeles in just 30 minutes, 55 seconds of play — the smallest amount of playing time in a 5x5 performance in league history.
Wembanyama also joined Michael Jordan as the only players to get at least five steals and five blocks in consecutive games.
“I wonder if (Jordan) did it in wins, not losses,” Wembanyama said. “To me, it’s secondary. Hopefully in the future we can look back and see this as a good performance, but as of today, I can’t be satisfied in a loss.”
Wembanyama scored 16 points in a dominant first quarter, but Anthony Davis answered his fellow No. 1 overall pick's challenge with impressive play in the next two quarters while the Lakers maintained their lead.
Davis racked up 28 points and 13 rebounds before sitting out the entire fourth quarter of the second game in a back-to-back set. Jaxson Hayes performed capably in his place against Wembanyama while James led the Lakers to their 12th win in 18 games.
“(James) powered through some good stretches and some tough stretches, but all in all, when we needed him to make plays, make shots, he stepped up and he did that,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “Coming out of the All-Star break, everything is a little topsy-turvy. Guys are still trying to get back in rhythm to where we were beforehand, but I thought (James) was good.”
San Antonio finished on a 17-5 run in the final 3 1/2 minutes to trim the final margin considerably.
D'Angelo Russell had 22 points and six assists on his 28th birthday, while Rui Hachimura added 17 points for the Lakers, who haven't been able to move higher ninth place in the Western Conference standings despite their surge in recent weeks. Los Angeles returned from the All-Star break with a loss to Golden State on Thursday.
James came back strong after missing the Lakers’ last two games to rest his sore ankle, although he played in the All-Star Game in between.
“I can’t tell you how we’re going to be each and every single day,” James said. “We just put the work in and live with the results. We approach the game the right way defensively. Offensively, we continue to share the ball. ... If we defend, we get back in transition and we clean glass when teams miss, we’ll give ourselves a chance to win every night.”
Wembanyama embraced his first opportunity to play underneath the Lakers' wall of championship banners by getting off to a brilliant start, racking up 13 points and three rebounds while drawing two fouls from Davis in the game's first six minutes alone. He was up to 20 points by halftime, but was just 2 for 6 after halftime.
Malaki Branham scored 17 points and Jeremy Sochan had 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Spurs, who have lost three straight and 10 of 11. They're 1-6 on their nine-game annual Rodeo Road Trip.
San Antonio snapped its franchise-record losing streak at 18 games in these teams' last meeting in December.