Getty
Lakers’ Austin Reaves and LeBron James during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in April 2025
The Los Angeles Lakers entered Tuesday night’s matchup against the San Antonio Spurs with a lengthy injury report and little margin for error.
Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves were all ruled out, while Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart also missed the contest.
Given the absences, the blowout 136-108 loss was hardly unexpected.
Victor Wembanyama took full advantage of the depleted roster. The Spurs star erupted for 37 points in the first half alone and finished with a season-high-tying 40 points in just 26 minutes, overwhelming a Lakers defense missing much of its core.
For Los Angeles, Luke Kennard and Drew Timme paced the scoring with 14 points each. Bronny James delivered one of the most well-rounded performances of his young career, contributing 12 points and six assists in extended minutes.
Lakers Focused on Long-Term Health
With so many key players sidelined, the matchup felt close to a scheduled loss. The greater concern now lies with the health and availability of the Lakers’ star trio.
Head coach JJ Redick offered updates before tipoff, suggesting that both James and Reaves were held out primarily as precautionary measures.
“Austin, he was coming back from a tissue injury, he was only going to play in one of these games,” Redick told reporters. “LeBron, obviously, dealing with the history of injuries he’s had to start the year. It just depends on how he wakes up the next day as he goes through his treatment in the morning, but we ruled him out.”
When asked about Doncic’s status, Redick kept it brief, saying, “Luka continues to progress.”
James, now 41, has seen his back-to-back availability become a frequent topic of discussion throughout the season.
He has now missed 18 games, leaving him short of the 65-game minimum required for end-of-season awards eligibility.
It will mark the first time since 2005 that James is not selected to an All-NBA team, a notable milestone in an otherwise historic career.
Reaves, meanwhile, only recently returned from a 19-game absence. The Lakers appear determined to manage his workload carefully, prioritizing durability over short-term gains.
Cautious Optimism Around Doncic
Doncic has now missed three consecutive games after exiting last Thursday’s contest against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first quarter with a hamstring injury.
While Redick’s update lacked detail, it aligns with earlier messaging that the strain is mild.
There remains a realistic possibility that Doncic could return before the All-Star break, potentially against his former team, the Dallas Mavericks.
The Lakers have already navigated multiple injury disruptions involving Doncic this season, including a left finger sprain, recurring leg issues, and both lower back and ankle injuries that sidelined him for stretches.
The Slovenian star has also acknowledged playing through lingering soreness that has gradually intensified, raising concerns about cumulative wear as his heavy minute load continues to mount.
With the loss to San Antonio, the Lakers drop to 32-21 and have now lost two straight.
They currently sit fifth in the Western Conference, just 1.5 games behind the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets in third and fourth.
At the same time, they hold only a slim 0.5-game cushion over the Phoenix Suns in seventh, keeping the play-in picture firmly within reach.
Matt Evans is a sports journalist from the United Kingdom, based in Paris, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA and wider global sport. More about Matt Evans
More Heavy on Lakers
Loading more stories