Spurs rout depleted Lakers in last Staples Center game
National Basketball Association | Spurs 138, Lakers 110
LOS ANGELES — Keita Bates-Diop scored a career-high 30 points, and the San Antonio Spurs routed the slumping Los Angeles Lakers 138-110 on Thursday night in the final event at Staples Center under the 22-year-old arena’s original name.
LeBron James had 36 points and nine rebounds and Russell Westbrook scored 30 points for Los Angeles, which has lost four straight for the first time this season amid COVID-19 roster chaos. The Lakers are playing without coach Frank Vogel and five players under the NBA’s health and safety protocols, and they’re 0-4 since Anthony Davis injured his left knee in Minnesota last week.
Derrick White had 23 points and Lonnie Walker added 21 in the third victory in four games for the Spurs, who hit 18 3-pointers while completing a two-game sweep of the two NBA tenants of the downtown Los Angeles arena.
The building is changing its name to Crypto.com Arena on Christmas under what’s believed to be the richest naming rights agreement in sports history. The cryptocurrency platform and exchange is paying more than $700 million over 20 years to put its name on a building that has hosted countless major sports and entertainment events since it opened in 1999 — and has been home to six Lakers championship teams.
San Antonio took an early double-digit lead on Thursday and comfortably won back-toback games for the first time since Dec. 4 despite a subpar game from leading scorer Dejounte Murray, who went 3 for 16.
Bates-Diop, the fourth-year NBA journeyman who’s averaging 3.8 points per game this season, scored 11 points in the third quarter. He finished with five 3-pointers.
Dwight Howard got out of
list Wednesday, although Staley is optimistic they’ll be back for Houston.
Los Angeles also could be without defensive centerpiece Derwin James, whose hamstring injury sidelined him early in the loss to Kansas City. James and Bosa both were selected to the AFC’s Pro Bowl team on Wednesday.
With so many key Chargers contributors uncertain for the weekend, even the Texans present a significant threat to pull off an upset that could tank the Bolts’ hopes for their second playoff appearance in eight years.
But the Chargers realize most of the goals they’ve set this season are still in reach, starting with a postseason berth that could require a 3-0 finish against Houston, Denver and Las Vegas.
“We have this conversation all of the time in the locker room about where we stand and what we have to do,” Chargers linebacker Uchenna Nwosu said. “How can you not? With the standings being so close, everybody is right there, every game is important and every game is a playoff game. Everybody is focused on the details. We just have to play through it and see what happens.”
The greatest reason for optimism on any NFL team is a standout quarterback, and Justin Herbert fills the rest of the Chargers with an understandable comfort. The second-year pro can make up for a wealth of shortcomings in other areas with his 4,058 yards passing (fourth in the league) and 32 TD throws (third).
Herbert was selected as the AFC’s starting quarterback for the Pro Bowl late Wednesday, further cementing his growing reputation. He is the Chargers’ first quarterback to receive the honor since Dan Fouts in 1983.
“He’s certainly worthy of that selection,” Staley said. “I think what he would tell you is that it’s because of his teammates. I think that we’ve had a really, really quality season around him. He’s been at the center of everything that we’ve done as a football team. I’m so proud of his season.”
The Chargers have allowed at least 21 points in eight consecutive games, meaning they need big games from Herbert and his receivers just to stay in contention most weekends.
While Los Angeles’ defense has several strengths, the combination of injury problems, unimpressive personnel at certain positions and endemically poor tackling have prevented Staley from building a defense on par with his NFL-leading group with the Rams last season.
James’ absence was acutely noticeable on Travis Kelce’s game-winning touchdown romp through the Chargers’ secondary in overtime. The Pro Bowl safety didn’t practice Wednesday, but Staley said he hopes James is available as the Bolts continue their upward playoff push.
“We’re just going to make sure that we manage him appropriately,” Staley said. “He’s feeling better than he was last week, but we just want to make sure that we bring them along the right way. His spirits are high.”