Lakers at Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs own the second-best defense in the NBA but will be looking to bounce back from a rare shaky performance when they host the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday. San Antonio allows an average of 97.8 points but struggled on the defensive end during Tuesday's 109-107 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Spurs allowed 85 or fewer points in two of their previous three games so the sub-par effort that allowed the Bucks to go 10-of-19 from 3-point range was a stunner. "Milwaukee was aggressive for 48 minutes, played hard, executed, did a great job," San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich told reporters. "You've got to guard them. If you don't guard them, you're in trouble and you've got to hope you score." The Lakers were routed 108-87 at home by the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday after winning their previous two games. Los Angeles scored 30 points in the second half, prompting coach Luke Walton to say, "I did not really recognize that team out there, hopefully it was just a little speed bump."
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles), FSN Southwest (San Antonio)
ABOUT THE LAKERS (15-27): Point guard D'Angelo Russell jammed a finger during Wednesday's practice but said he will be fine to play against the Spurs. His teammates will be hoping he keeps his composure a little better as the game against Portland quickly got away after Russell agitated Trail Blazers star guard Damian Lillard. Russell's offensive play was suspect as well as he scored nine points on 4-of-14 shooting, including misses on all seven 3-point attempts.
ABOUT THE SPURS (30-8): Center Pau Gasol was highly disappointed with Tuesday's showing as San Antonio allowed 100 or more points for the sixth time in its eight losses."We're supposed to be a pretty good defensive team, and that's not just one player, not two players, but the entire team working together and being in sync on the floor," Gasol told reporters. "A guy can score one time, maybe twice on a certain play but that's it. Someone has to do something to get the ball out of his hands, to not concede those types of plays and those types of points." The Spurs are clicking offensively and scored 100 or more in 15 consecutive games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Spurs posted a 116-107 win over the Lakers on Nov. 18 for their sixth consecutive win in the series.
2. Los Angeles PF Julius Randle scored just six points on 2-of-9 shooting against Portland after averaging 17.6 points over the previous eight games.
3. San Antonio PF LaMarcus Aldridge (stomach virus) is expected back from a one-game absence.