Lakers vs. Spurs, 109-87: Better Than It Looks

The Lakers fell to the Spurs n Friday night by 20-plus points, but it’s not as bad as the final score would say

The Los Angeles Lakers picked up their 20th loss of the 2015-16 season on Friday night on the road against the San Antonio Spurs, just their 23rd game overall this season. However, the results are relatively inconsequential at this point as the Lakers have seemingly (or hopefully) moved to the next phase of this season.

The Spurs, even while resting Tony Parker, were always going to be the better team than the Lakers on Friday night. However, what the Lakers needed was for their young players and even some of their veteran guys to show a bit of life. While Julius Randle struggled, D’Angelo Russell again stepped up to the plate as he got the start for the injured Jordan Clarkson.

Russell was aggressive from the opening tip as he was looking to facilitate and score with the ball in his hands. His stroke from long-range looked arguably the best and most consistent that it has in any game this entire season, but he also carried over his late-game heroics from Wednesday night into an entire 48-minute contest against San Antonio.

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Again, the Lakers were far from perfect in this game, which would explain the 22-point loss. Kobe Bryant fell flat after a hot start, Randle had one of his worst games of the season in virtually every regard, and really no one off of the bench did much to contribute to the effort. Moreover, Larry Nance Jr. and Roy Hibbert were eaten alive in the frontcourt by LaMarcus Aldridge while Spurs guard Patty Mills filled it up from deep against the always troublesome Lakers perimeter defense.

All of that in mind, not all 20-plus-point losses feel the same and there is still the feeling of progress coming out of this loss on Friday. Russell is finally showing the qualities as a point guard that make him such a special prospect and paint the picture of his enormous potential. While Randle was disappointing, that’s expected from time to time with young inexperienced players. As long as he and Russell continue to get the opportunity to shine, things are moving in the right direction for the Lakers.

The losses might keep coming, but that’s inconsequential if the team is properly helping to build a foundation for the future.

Three stars

D’Angelo Russell impressed yet again as the rookie point guard finished with 24 points, six assists, six rebounds, and two steals on 9-23 shooting and 5-10 shooting from long-range.

Lou Williams was solid in the Lakers starting backcourt as he put up 19 points, three rebounds, one assist, and two steals on 7-12 shooting.

LaMarcus Aldridge was a beast against the Lakers front line as he put up 24 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists in only 27 minutes of action.

Highlights

"Ball movement"

"Swaggy from"

https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/675535330255093760

Odds

The Spurs were favored by 15 points right before tip-off and covered the spread in the win. The two teams just barely eclipsed the 193.5-point O/U line.

Next: LA Front Office to Sit Down With Byron Scott

Next Game

The Lakers will be in action again on Saturday, on the road against the Houston Rockets.

The Spurs will also be in action on Saturday, going east to face the Atlanta Hawks.