Here is what you need to know before the Lakers’ take on the San Antonio Spurs.
1)
Kobe Bryant will not play due to a torn right rotator cuff. The team is uncertain when Bryant, who was named to his 17th All-Star Game on Thursday, will be ready to return. The 19-year veteran was on a roll prior to his injury, averaging 15.3 points, 8.3 assists and 7.6 rebounds in his last seven games, albeit while shooting 37.8 percent from the field.
2)
Without their leading scorer, Bryant (22.3 ppg), the next man up for the Lakers is Nick Young, who is averaging 14.5 points. Young had his best game of the season last time L.A. faced the Spurs, pouring in 29 points on 9-for-14 shooting, including a San Antonio opponent-best 6-for-9 clip from beyond the arc. The Los Angeles native also drained the game-winning, 30-foot 3-pointer in overtime with the shot clock expiring to push the Lakers to a 112-110 victory.
Nick Young Shot Chart (Dec. 12 vs. San Antonio)
3)
The Lakers and Spurs have each beaten the other once this season. Should the Lakers win this final game between the two, it would be the first time L.A. has taken the season series against San Antonio since the 2008-09 season. Since then, the Lakers have gone just 9-16 against the Spurs, including the playoffs.
4)
Like the majority of his 18-year career, Tim Duncan has been an all-around force for San Antonio. Although he is shooting a career-low 48.0 percent from the field, Duncan is still second on the team in scoring (14.7), while leading the Spurs in rebounds (10.0) and blocks (1.9). The U.S. Virgin Islands native is also second among power forwards in assists (3.2), while holding opponents to the league’s lowest field goal percentage at the rim (46.2) among players who face at least 8.5 shots there per game.
5)
Kawhi Leonard has only played 26 games this season due to injury, but he has been effective while on the floor. The reigning NBA Finals MVP leads the Spurs in both scoring (15.4) and steals (2.0). Leonard has also been one of the league’s hardest working players on the boards, as he grabs 76.0 percent of rebounds per chance, which trails only LeBron James (77.1).
6)
Tony Parker is averaging his fewest points (14.5) and assists (4.7) since his rookie season, though that is a product mainly of his career-low 29.0 minutes per game. The Frenchman has been a reliable scorer when he does shoot, ranking second among point guards in field goal percentage (48.9). He has also been superb at what he does best: driving to the hoop. Parker’s 51.9 field goal percentage on drives is the league’s highest among those averaging at least nine drives per game.
7)
Danny Green has made a substantial leap in his sixth NBA season, averaging career highs in scoring (12.5), rebounds (4.4) and assists (2.0). However, Green may be even more valuable on the defensive end, where he places second among guards in blocks (1.1) and is the only guard averaging at least one block and steal.
8)
Despite playing a carer high 22.2 minutes per game, Patty Mills has refused to slow down. The Australian is averaging the fastest pace in the league, running 4.8 miles per hour while in the game. Mills’ hustle has been primarily felt on the defensive end, as San Antonio’s defensive rating drops from 104.7 with him off the floor to 93.3 while on it.
9)
San Antonio has featured a rotating cast of starters this season, using 23 different starting lineups in 44 games, which are the second-most in the league behind New York (24). Twelve different Spurs have led the team in scoring in at least one game, and 15 have scored in double figures, both of which are league highs.
10)
Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich is on pace to extend his NBA record to 18 consecutive winning seasons. The 65-year-old Air Force Academy alumnus has been at San Antonio’s helm for 19 straight seasons, which makes him the longest tenured coach in the four major North American sports, ahead of the Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Scioscia (15 seasons).