Iztok Franko: Lakers Game Observations :Game 35 @ Spurs

January 8, 2026 at 8:03 am

From above article:

A competitive fight, but a game for sober reflection

What looked like a potential schedule loss when doing my quick preview yesterday turned out to be exactly that.

The Lakers, already without Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura, also decided not to play LeBron James on the second night of a back-to-back as he continues to manage left foot joint arthritis and right sciatica, and fell 107–91 to a much more complete San Antonio Spurs squad, with Victor Wembanyama delivering an impactful 26 minutes off the bench despite being on a back-to-back himself.

And yet, despite lacking most of their top-end talent, this was a surprisingly fun game to watch. It had real throwback vibes, reminiscent of some early Mavericks games, with Luka Dončić and a group of role players just fighting.

Because of that, these observations will be split in two: first, a couple of notes on the fun, throwback Luka game; then, a look at the bigger-picture takeaways. Even undermanned, against what currently looks like a top-three team in the NBA, there are still some meaningful conclusions to draw from this one.

digginbasketball is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Today’s notes:

One-man band Luka throwback game (VIDEO)

Luka’s first-half passing clinic (VIDEO)

Takeaway I.: The Lakers didn’t get run out of the building

Takeaway II.: Roster construction disparity

Takeaway III.: An early playoff stress test for some

1-One-man band Luka throwback game (VIDEO)

Dončić looked noticeably more comfortable against the aggressive San Antonio Spurs defense. With Stephon Castle applying strong on-ball pressure and the Spurs funneling ball-handlers toward Victor Wembanyama inside, this was the familiar mix of aggressive point-of-attack defense and deep drop coverage built around elite length. It’s the same defensive profile that has given Dončić problems in some recent losses against both the Spurs and the Suns—but this time, he looked far more at ease navigating it.

This was probably Dončić’s best game this season in terms of pick-and-roll manipulation—using the screen to gain a half-step advantage, then punishing defenders on his hip with a mix of patience, change of rhythm, strength, and shot-making. That last part can’t be overstated: while the three-ball remains wildly inconsistent, his work inside the arc was elite last night, making 11 of his 17 shots, drawing 12 fouls, and getting to the line for 16 free throws.

Dončić’s composure, aggression, and ability to bend the Spurs’ defense gave the Lakers confidence. Leadership is something JJ Redick mentioned postgame as an area he and Dončić have discussed and worked on since Christmas. Despite being severely outmatched, the Lakers kept fighting, and the game was far more competitive than the final score suggests.

Eventually, the Lakers simply didn’t have enough, or rather anyone, to generate offense beyond Dončić, with their other two-man creators unavailable. They fell apart during Dončić’s first short rest, going scoreless for nearly four minutes.

Dave McMenamin
@mcten
From @StatsWilliams: The Lakers have 16 made field goals at the half. Luka Doncic has scored or assisted on 14 of them.

The Spurs lead 48-43 at the break.
7:49 PM · Jan 7, 2026 · 35K Views
3 Replies · 42 Reposts · 362 Likes

Despite Dončić finishing with a 38/10/10 triple-double, this was the Lakers’ second-worst offensive output of the season. It was another reminder of how difficult it is to score today against teams with paint-patrolling freaks like Wembanyama, or even Kornet, especially with lineups that opposing defenses do not respect as shooting threats. The Lakers had plenty of those minutes last night with Jarred Vanderbilt, Marcus Smart, and Maxi Kleber on the floor.

Source: Cleaning the Glass

2-Luka’s first-half passing clinic (VIDEO)

Despite the shot-making and 38 points, scoring wasn’t even the most impressive part of Dončić’s night. The passing was. Dončić put together a highlight reel of dishes that most players would be happy to call a season mixtape, all in one game.

It included three lob passes, one of them a SportsCenter-worthy cross-court lob to Jaxson Hayes over Wembanyama, a between-the-legs skip pass for an easy Deandre Ayton finish at the rim, a couple of no-look dimes for open corner threes, and a cross-court bounce skip pass in transition.

Dončić also forced a couple of bad passes and finished with seven turnovers, but with none of his teammates recording more than two assists, some of those felt more like desperation attempts to make something happen.

3-Takeaway I.: The Lakers didn’t get run out of the building

If a lack of speed and getting killed in transition was the downfall in the previous disappointing loss to the Spurs, and in other losses against athletic teams like the Thunder, Suns, Rockets, Pistons, and Hawks, last night the Lakers looked far more prepared for both the fight and the sprint.

The level of defensive effort and activity was there for most of the night. You could even say they were too eager early on, committing a couple of unnecessary fouls on three-point closeouts and coughing up a few wild turnovers.

But the starting lineup featuring three high motor players with Smart, LaRavia, and Vanderbilt filling in for James, along with Jaxson Hayes, Maxi Kleber and Gabe Vincent getting minutes off the bench, showed that a defense built around Dončić can hang around with the top teams in the NBA. The Lakers even outscored the Spurs 15–12 in fast-break points.

I guess the Lakers not looking totally athletically overmatched can be called progress, and despite the other limitations, it’s another signal, in a season full of them, for future roster construction around Dončić.

4-Takeaway II.: Roster construction disparity

Now, while Smart, LaRavia, Vanderbilt, Vincent, and Kleber provided defensive focus, effort, and composure, there was still a glaring difference in dynamism and athleticism between the two rosters.

You could see it when Castle blew by LaRavia for an easy dunk or finished over Ayton at the rim. You could see it whenever Keldon Johnson bullied smaller defenders like Vincent or Knecht on his way to the paint. And you could see it on occasions when the Spurs’ two rookies Harper and Bryant were flying downhill.

The Spurs struggled shooting the three even more than the Lakers did, and their two primary scorers didn’t have great scoring nights. They compensated by consistently driving and attacking the paint. The Lakers’ role players, especially their key wing defenders, simply do not have that dimension in their game, with LaRavia being the lone partial exception.

5-Takeaway III.: An early playoff stress test for some

Injuries to key rotation players have expanded the minutes for others, and games like this one offered a look at how competitive, or if you prefer reliable, some of them can be in higher-leverage, playoff-like settings.

Smart and Vanderbilt were two key reasons why the Lakers managed to hold the Spurs in check and why the defense looked respectable for most of the night. On the other end, though, their limitations in decision-making, and at times out-of-control play, hurt the Lakers. Together, they scored six points, went 0-for-6 from three, and committed five turnovers, including botching both half-opening ATOs by failing to execute the basic initial set entry pass. Smart has shown this season that he can follow up low-scoring, poor-shooting nights with performances on the other end of the spectrum. However, a 30-plus-minute-per-game role, no matter how much the team may need it, is not ideal for him. Vanderbilt, on the other hand, as much as it hurts to say, probably remains unplayable in high-stakes games where the opposing team features a roaming big like Wembanyama or Jaren Jackson Jr., as the Lakers have seen in the last couple of games.

Vincent returned after a prolonged injury absence, but once again showed how difficult it is to play a small-guard archetype that is a constant mismatch in today’s NBA, unless you’re a defender like Davion Mitchell or an elite shooter like Stephen Curry.

Ayton had another underwhelming game against quality opposition, one where the pace and physicality again seemed to overwhelm him. After a strong start to the season, he’s now stacking up too many games where his impact is barely felt, or where the Lakers simply look better with Hayes, a career backup, on the floor. Speaking of Hayes, he’s showing progress as a defender and decision-maker, becoming more than just a lob catcher, and he was one of the two players, along with LaRavia, that Redick highlighted postgame as having made a real impact in recent games.

And to end on a positive note, LaRavia had another game where he paired his hustle with a high-volume, high-efficiency night from three, a much-needed skill set for any future wing partner next to Dončić. I’ve been writing about LaRavia and his growing comfort playing both with and off Dončić in recent games, and he’s showing he has the motor and versatility to make an impact as a rotation player in an eight- or nine-man rotation on a good playoff team.

Comments

LakerTom says

January 8, 2026 at 8:03 am

From above article:

A competitive fight, but a game for sober reflection

What looked like a potential schedule loss when doing my quick preview yesterday turned out to be exactly that.

The Lakers, already without Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura, also decided not to play LeBron James on the second night of a back-to-back as he continues to manage left foot joint arthritis and right sciatica, and fell 107–91 to a much more complete San Antonio Spurs squad, with Victor Wembanyama delivering an impactful 26 minutes off the bench despite being on a back-to-back himself.

And yet, despite lacking most of their top-end talent, this was a surprisingly fun game to watch. It had real throwback vibes, reminiscent of some early Mavericks games, with Luka Dončić and a group of role players just fighting.

Because of that, these observations will be split in two: first, a couple of notes on the fun, throwback Luka game; then, a look at the bigger-picture takeaways. Even undermanned, against what currently looks like a top-three team in the NBA, there are still some meaningful conclusions to draw from this one.

digginbasketball is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Today’s notes:

One-man band Luka throwback game (VIDEO)

Luka’s first-half passing clinic (VIDEO)

Takeaway I.: The Lakers didn’t get run out of the building

Takeaway II.: Roster construction disparity

Takeaway III.: An early playoff stress test for some

1-One-man band Luka throwback game (VIDEO)

Dončić looked noticeably more comfortable against the aggressive San Antonio Spurs defense. With Stephon Castle applying strong on-ball pressure and the Spurs funneling ball-handlers toward Victor Wembanyama inside, this was the familiar mix of aggressive point-of-attack defense and deep drop coverage built around elite length. It’s the same defensive profile that has given Dončić problems in some recent losses against both the Spurs and the Suns—but this time, he looked far more at ease navigating it.

This was probably Dončić’s best game this season in terms of pick-and-roll manipulation—using the screen to gain a half-step advantage, then punishing defenders on his hip with a mix of patience, change of rhythm, strength, and shot-making. That last part can’t be overstated: while the three-ball remains wildly inconsistent, his work inside the arc was elite last night, making 11 of his 17 shots, drawing 12 fouls, and getting to the line for 16 free throws.

Dončić’s composure, aggression, and ability to bend the Spurs’ defense gave the Lakers confidence. Leadership is something JJ Redick mentioned postgame as an area he and Dončić have discussed and worked on since Christmas. Despite being severely outmatched, the Lakers kept fighting, and the game was far more competitive than the final score suggests.

Eventually, the Lakers simply didn’t have enough, or rather anyone, to generate offense beyond Dončić, with their other two-man creators unavailable. They fell apart during Dončić’s first short rest, going scoreless for nearly four minutes.

Dave McMenamin
@mcten
From @StatsWilliams: The Lakers have 16 made field goals at the half. Luka Doncic has scored or assisted on 14 of them.

The Spurs lead 48-43 at the break.
7:49 PM · Jan 7, 2026 · 35K Views
3 Replies · 42 Reposts · 362 Likes

Despite Dončić finishing with a 38/10/10 triple-double, this was the Lakers’ second-worst offensive output of the season. It was another reminder of how difficult it is to score today against teams with paint-patrolling freaks like Wembanyama, or even Kornet, especially with lineups that opposing defenses do not respect as shooting threats. The Lakers had plenty of those minutes last night with Jarred Vanderbilt, Marcus Smart, and Maxi Kleber on the floor.

Source: Cleaning the Glass

2-Luka’s first-half passing clinic (VIDEO)

Despite the shot-making and 38 points, scoring wasn’t even the most impressive part of Dončić’s night. The passing was. Dončić put together a highlight reel of dishes that most players would be happy to call a season mixtape, all in one game.

It included three lob passes, one of them a SportsCenter-worthy cross-court lob to Jaxson Hayes over Wembanyama, a between-the-legs skip pass for an easy Deandre Ayton finish at the rim, a couple of no-look dimes for open corner threes, and a cross-court bounce skip pass in transition.

Dončić also forced a couple of bad passes and finished with seven turnovers, but with none of his teammates recording more than two assists, some of those felt more like desperation attempts to make something happen.

3-Takeaway I.: The Lakers didn’t get run out of the building

If a lack of speed and getting killed in transition was the downfall in the previous disappointing loss to the Spurs, and in other losses against athletic teams like the Thunder, Suns, Rockets, Pistons, and Hawks, last night the Lakers looked far more prepared for both the fight and the sprint.

The level of defensive effort and activity was there for most of the night. You could even say they were too eager early on, committing a couple of unnecessary fouls on three-point closeouts and coughing up a few wild turnovers.

But the starting lineup featuring three high motor players with Smart, LaRavia, and Vanderbilt filling in for James, along with Jaxson Hayes, Maxi Kleber and Gabe Vincent getting minutes off the bench, showed that a defense built around Dončić can hang around with the top teams in the NBA. The Lakers even outscored the Spurs 15–12 in fast-break points.

I guess the Lakers not looking totally athletically overmatched can be called progress, and despite the other limitations, it’s another signal, in a season full of them, for future roster construction around Dončić.

4-Takeaway II.: Roster construction disparity

Now, while Smart, LaRavia, Vanderbilt, Vincent, and Kleber provided defensive focus, effort, and composure, there was still a glaring difference in dynamism and athleticism between the two rosters.

You could see it when Castle blew by LaRavia for an easy dunk or finished over Ayton at the rim. You could see it whenever Keldon Johnson bullied smaller defenders like Vincent or Knecht on his way to the paint. And you could see it on occasions when the Spurs’ two rookies Harper and Bryant were flying downhill.

The Spurs struggled shooting the three even more than the Lakers did, and their two primary scorers didn’t have great scoring nights. They compensated by consistently driving and attacking the paint. The Lakers’ role players, especially their key wing defenders, simply do not have that dimension in their game, with LaRavia being the lone partial exception.

5-Takeaway III.: An early playoff stress test for some

Injuries to key rotation players have expanded the minutes for others, and games like this one offered a look at how competitive, or if you prefer reliable, some of them can be in higher-leverage, playoff-like settings.

Smart and Vanderbilt were two key reasons why the Lakers managed to hold the Spurs in check and why the defense looked respectable for most of the night. On the other end, though, their limitations in decision-making, and at times out-of-control play, hurt the Lakers. Together, they scored six points, went 0-for-6 from three, and committed five turnovers, including botching both half-opening ATOs by failing to execute the basic initial set entry pass. Smart has shown this season that he can follow up low-scoring, poor-shooting nights with performances on the other end of the spectrum. However, a 30-plus-minute-per-game role, no matter how much the team may need it, is not ideal for him. Vanderbilt, on the other hand, as much as it hurts to say, probably remains unplayable in high-stakes games where the opposing team features a roaming big like Wembanyama or Jaren Jackson Jr., as the Lakers have seen in the last couple of games.

Vincent returned after a prolonged injury absence, but once again showed how difficult it is to play a small-guard archetype that is a constant mismatch in today’s NBA, unless you’re a defender like Davion Mitchell or an elite shooter like Stephen Curry.

Ayton had another underwhelming game against quality opposition, one where the pace and physicality again seemed to overwhelm him. After a strong start to the season, he’s now stacking up too many games where his impact is barely felt, or where the Lakers simply look better with Hayes, a career backup, on the floor. Speaking of Hayes, he’s showing progress as a defender and decision-maker, becoming more than just a lob catcher, and he was one of the two players, along with LaRavia, that Redick highlighted postgame as having made a real impact in recent games.

And to end on a positive note, LaRavia had another game where he paired his hustle with a high-volume, high-efficiency night from three, a much-needed skill set for any future wing partner next to Dončić. I’ve been writing about LaRavia and his growing comfort playing both with and off Dončić in recent games, and he’s showing he has the motor and versatility to make an impact as a rotation player in an eight- or nine-man rotation on a good playoff team.

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