Spurs Lose To Lakers 120-115

The Spurs came up short losing to the visiting Los Angeles Lakers 120 to 115 in the Emirates NBA Cup game at the Frost Bank Center. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 28 points and 14 rebounds. The Spurs are back in action tonight, when they travel to Dallas to play the Mavericks. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

SPURS POSTGAME QUOTES

Spurs Acting Head Coach Mitch Johnson

(On the team’s performance in the second half)

“I was happy with how we responded in the second half. I thought we had a good defense the second half that gave us a chance to win. Just got to try to put four quarters together on that end.”

(On the Lakers defense on Victor Wembanyama)

“Yeah, they're well versed in many defensive schemes. They've got a couple guys other there that have been doing this for a long time and they made some adjustments. They did a lot of gave us a lot of different looks. I thought Victor [Wembanyama] was great. I think it's tough he didn't get a whistle tonight, didn't get any free throws. I think that's tough. I thought he had some strong drives, and we'll just have to stay with that continue to help him find solutions to continue to get to the paint and get to the rim and wear those refs down.”

Spurs Guard Stephon Castle

(On if this game was another step forward for him)

“Yeah, for sure, but at the end of the day we still wanted to win. I don’t really take moral victories, but I feel like our team is definitely moving in the right direction."

(On Chris Paul getting to 12,000 career assists Friday)

“Crazy. Somebody told us before the game that he was close, but that’s a crazy achievement. Third all-time ever is something that a guy - especially a point guard - couldn’t even dream of, just to be in that situation for assists. I’m more than happy for ‘CP’ and I’m looking forward to him doing more this season.”

Spurs Forward Victor Wembanyama

(How do you summarize the game tonight … ) 

“I'd say we had some good moments. We just went back and forth, I would say and that doesn't work against an experienced team like them, but I think it's promising.”

(On playing the Lakers this year after some close games here in San Antonio last year …)

“I think as a team we all feel more in control of the situation. Having less big up and downs. So it's not linear, but we're getting better. Looking back a year from now, we just got much better. So, we're trying to keep it that way.”

Spurs Guard Chris Paul

(On hitting 12,0000 assists…)

“Man, it’s crazy. I think more than anything, I am just grateful for the opportunity to play as long as I have. Set different goals when you come in as a young player. I remember the first time I played in Utah and I looked up and saw John Stockton as the all-time assists and steals leader, and I was like ‘I’m gonna catch him.’ That was a lie. To be second behind John Stockton, to do that is really cool.”

 (On the teams progress after tonight…)

“There are no moral victories. That was a hard-fought game, against a veteran team, obviously. They know how to get to the line. They know their offense down the stretch. Think it’s a tough call there at the end of the game. When you watch those games, you love to see them decide it by play, or something like that, but that’s how it goes sometimes.”

 L.A. LAKERS POSTGAME QUOTES

Lakers Head Coach JJ Reddick

(On the play of LeBron James and Anthony Davis)

“You certainly have to think about how you can move [Victor] Wembanyama around defensively. I thought we did that well tonight. ‘AD’, whether it was crashing the boards or running in transition, he’s always getting 8-12 points, like garbage buckets. Just cleaning stuff up. When we execute and we’re really intentional about how we were using him in set plays, he got to some good spots. I told him after the game, ‘I know you’re doing this now on a nightly basis, I’m not taking this for granted. It’s fun to coach, it’s fun to watch.

Then with LeBron, I think it was you that asked me the other night, ‘As a coach do you think about him as a bigger threat as a scorer or passer or how do you sort of find that balance?’ Look, it’s tough. He’s able to consistently make the right read and make the right play. And on a night where he doesn’t take a ton of shots, ends up with 16 rebounds and 12 assists. We got to clean up a couple of those turnovers. The responsiveness to some of the emphasis points that we’ve displayed throughout the preseason and the regular season is really promising. When your leader, your captain, when we are emphasizing being physical on the defensive glass, we’re emphasizing defensive rebounds, we’re emphasizing limiting second-chance points, then he’s going out there and just grabbing every rebound, it’s awesome for our group.” 

(On James having success with assists this season and how to balance that in the offense with Davis)

“Some of that is staggering lineups with those two. Making sure one of them is always on the court. I think when we made the initial change, obviously the starting lineup has changed since then, but when we made the initial change and got him [James] with ‘AR’ [Austin Reaves], I think that’s been really good for us with some second unit guys. I think the biggest thing that we’ve kind of seen as a staff is as we continue to sort of build out the offensive system and play calling sheet, it’s very easy to then get him and ‘AD’ the ball in the right spot or have ‘AD’ rolling with an empty side or with a single-side tag. Every ‘ATO’ [after time out] we draw is out of our formations. It’s all out of the system. It’s not like I’m drawing up random stuff. Coming out of timeouts I think we’ve done a really good job with those two guys making sure they get the ball in the right spots.”

Lakers Forward/Center Anthony Davis

(On how important it is to have success amid lineup changes …)

“It’s been about everyone trusting the process and accepting the roles. DLO [DeAngelo Russel] didn’t have any fightback, he’s still coming in and doing stuff for us, and that’s obviously very professional of him. I think it speaks volumes of our unit and how we’re together. No one cares about if they’re starting or finishing games from off the bench, like whatever, as long as we get the win.” 

(On the intensity of the game…)

“It was very fun to get to play in a game like this on the road, especially when we’ve been struggling on the road. To come into this locker room and end the game with a win, it was phenomenal. We’re taking steps in the right direction as far as being on the road, obviously another tough one tomorrow, but, it was very fun. This is what you play the game of basketball for, especially at this level.”