Lakers vs. Spurs Pregame: Adjusting to a New-Look San Antonio
Lakers vs. Spurs: Adjusting to a New-Look San Antonio
Tonight, the Lakers face the Spurs on the second night of a back-to-back, fresh off a solid win against the Suns.
Meanwhile, the Spurs narrowly defeated the struggling 18-50 Pelicans. With Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox sidelined for the season, San Antonio’s game plan looks different than what we’ve seen before.
Devin Vassell is now the focal point of their offense, and if history tells us anything, the Lakers can’t overlook him. Vassell has given us problems this season, averaging 17.3 points, 3.3 assists, and 3.0 rebounds in matchups against L.A.
Without their two main stars, the Spurs will lean even more on Vassell, making containing him a top priority tonight.
San Antonio has also seen a rise in production from their role players, particularly Harrison Barnes. With more touches to go around, Barnes has stepped up over his last five games, heating up when the team needs him most.
The Lakers have the 6th-most difficult remaining schedule 👀 https://t.co/ThlqHsCDNC pic.twitter.com/5C84n6fz1S
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) March 17, 2025
Known for his corner-three balls, he ranks 6th in the entire NBA at 43.1% from that spot — a shot the Lakers can’t afford to give up tonight.
A notable absence for the Lakers tonight is Rui Hachimura, but given Wembanyama’s injury, it’s not as concerning as it might be in other matchups. Wemby likely would’ve been guarding Rui, so his absence, paired with Dorian Finney-Smith’s expected minutes, eases the blow.
The Spurs are 7-13 with Wembanyama in the lineup this season and have a terrible -6.1 net rating without him. If there were ever a game that would be okay without Rui, it’s this one.
Potential trap game
On paper, this could easily become a trap game for the Lakers. Facing a 28-38 Spurs team as part of a makeup schedule from the California wildfires, it’s easy to underestimate them.
The Lakers are 2-1 against San Antonio this season, but that one loss should serve as a reminder — this team can still surprise you.
However, there couldn’t be a more favorable matchup in one key area: free throws. The Lakers lead the league in free throw attempts at home with 24.5 per game, while the Spurs rank third in total personal fouls and first in fouls committed on the road.
If L.A. stays aggressive, they can exploit San Antonio’s tendency to send teams to the line — a crucial factor that could help the Lakers control the pace and capitalize on easy points.
Don’t be surprised if we see a foul-baiting masterclass from Luka Dončić, much like last game, where he blew by defenders and stopped mid-stride to draw contact and finish the and-one.
Against an inexperienced Spurs defense, his ability to manipulate defenders and draw fouls could play a major role in tonight’s outcome.
