Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron and AD close out Spurs again, 4 Lessons
By Ronald Agers
![SAN ANTONIO, TX - JANUARY 1: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives past Rudy Gay #22 of the San Antonio Spurs during second half action at AT&T Center on January 1 , 2021 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that , by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) SAN ANTONIO, TX - JANUARY 1: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives past Rudy Gay #22 of the San Antonio Spurs during second half action at AT&T Center on January 1 , 2021 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that , by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/98aabe88a988399ae08d88be51b8d527dd1eff70ebca596c5288fed2b3e19a1d.jpg)
The Los Angeles Lakers will miss KCP in the lineup
All basketball players from L.A. Fitness to the Los Angeles Lakers can relate to what Kentavious Caldwell-Pope dealt with in this game. Caldwell Pope is having a great start to the season and was playing very well in this game. He opened the third quarter with a personal 6-0 run including this dunk here when he put the Spurs franchise on a poster.
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 2, 2021
Soon after, he rolled his ankle driving for a layup. The early diagnosis on KCP is a sprained ankle and it’s unlikely that he will play the next game. Hopefully, this is not a high ankle sprain and he gets back soon because his production this year is under the radar. His numbers will not jump out at you, but his ability to knock down open shots has been consistent all year.
KCP’s 55 percent shooting from the field (52.5 percent from behind the arc!) makes him a vital part of the Lakers’ offense. With Alex Caruso still out with NBA’s health protocol, Talen Horton-Tucker and Wesley Matthews will be getting some minutes.
Caldwell-Pope finished with 11 points before the injury. Get better KCP, the Los Angeles Lakers need you.
There was a frustrated reader that left a comment on the early post-game report on how close the game was even though it looked like the Lakers dominated statistically. Read the next lesson and see why this post-game report is different from the others!