NBA Cup west picks
Predicting who will advance from the NBA Cup semifinals in the Western Conference.
Luka Doncic is back in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform after the birth of his second child. His presence adds another layer of intrigue when the San Antonio Spurs and Lakers, two Western Conference contenders off to encouraging starts to the 2025-26 season, meet in an NBA Cup quarterfinal game in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Dec. 10.
The Lakers (17-6) began the season without LeBron James, but the continued progression of Austin Reaves alongside Doncic ensured Los Angeles didn’t miss a beat while James was out. That trio combined for 71 points in Doncic’s first appearance since returning from a two-game absence in the Lakers’ 112-108 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.
San Antonio (16-7) is on pace to be a playoff team for the first time since 2019, even though Victor Wembanyama has missed the past 11 games with a left calf strain. The 7-foot-5 center recently returned to practice but will not make his return in the opening knockout round of the 2025 NBA Cup.
Here’s how to watch Wednesday’s NBA Cup West quarterfinal between the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs:
The Lakers appeared to have no answer for what San Antonio is doing on offense, but they did course correct behind their offense.
The Spurs — behind their speedy and athletic trio of guards De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper — are racing out in transition, getting paint touches and attacking the rim or setting up kick-out shots.
The Spurs eventually opened an 18-point lead, their biggest of the game. Los Angeles, however, clogged the paint and did a better job of contesting shots. That led to better offense for Los Angeles, though the Lakers often found themselves distracted with the officials.
Several times in the second quarter, the Lakers complained to the officiating crew, trying to leverage for calls. The Spurs used that to their advantage and pushed pace in transition even more.
Luka Dončić leads all players with 24 points on 8-of-17 shooting. LeBron James has added 12, though he brought the crowd to its feet with a thunderous dunk over Spurs center Luke Kornet.
The Spurs have shot 10-of-20 from 3-point range.
After a shaky start to the game, the Spurs have shored up their low-post defense and have dictated the pace and tempo of this game.
San Antonio gave up 12 points in the paint in the first few minutes of the game and followed that up by allowing just 4 more the rest of the quarter. It also helped the Spurs that backup forward Keldon Johnson came out on an absolute heater.
Johnson played just 5:24 in the period, but hit all three of his 3-pointers and dropped 13 points in the first. He leads all scorers, while point guard De’Aaron Fox added 8 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists.
Luka Dončić led the way for the Lakers with 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting. The difference thus far has been San Antonio’s efficiency in pushing the pace off of turnovers; the Spurs have scored 7 points off turnovers, compared to the Lakers, who have none.
Los Angeles is taking advantage of Victor Wembanyama’s absence.
As Wembanyama continues to nurse a calf strain, his defensive presence in the paint is gone, and the Lakers are clearly looking to exploit that. Twelve of L.A.’s 15 points have come in the paint.
San Antonio is going to drop coverage on pick-and-rolls, which is creating space for Laker attackers. Los Angeles is taking an early 15-11 lead midway through the first.
LeBron JamesRui HachimuraDeandre AytonAustin ReavesLuka DoncicDe’Aaron FoxStephon CastleDevin VassellHarrison BarnesLuke KornetWhat time is Spurs vs. Lakers NBA Cup game today?
The Los Angeles Lakers will host the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. local) at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Watch NBA Cup games with Amazon Prime Video
How to watch Spurs vs. Lakers NBA Cup game: TV, live streaming
The game between the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers will be live streamed nationally on Amazon Prime Video.
Date: Dec. 10Time: 10 p.m. ETLocation: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles)TV: NoneStreaming: Amazon Prime Video
The Los Angeles Lakers will not use the alternate NBA Cup court for their quarterfinal game against the San Antonio Spurs at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
The decision not to use the yellow alternate court was made “out of an abundance of caution.”
Lakers star Luka Doncic was among the players who had issues slipping on the court during the team’s 135-118 victory over the L.A. Clippers on Nov. 25. — James H. Williams