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10 Things to Know: Lakers vs. Spurs (2/26/17)

Here is what you need to know before the Lakers host the San Antonio Spurs.

1)
The Lakers fell to Oklahoma City in their last game on Friday, in spite of a strong performance from D’Angelo Russell. The 21-year-old continuously attacked the basket, finishing with 29 points — his second-most of the season — while also staying active on the other end with a career-high four steals.

2)
The Lakers have brought in a new point guard to back up Russell, as third-year pro Tyler Ennis participated in his first practice the day before this game. The former Rocket did not play much with his previous team, but he did excel in college at Syracuse, leading the ACC in both assists and steals in 2013-14.

3)
The Spurs are led by Kawhi Leonard, who represented in the Western Conference’s starting lineup at last week’s All-Star Game. The two-time reigning Defensive Player of the Year has made large strides on the other end of the floor, as he is averaging 29.6 points per game over the last six weeks.

4)
A five-year vet, Leonard currently owns the best winning percentage in league history, having come out on top in 77.9 percent of his games. Right behind him are teammate Danny Green (75.2) and the Lakers’ new President of Basketball Operations, Magic Johnson (74.0), who previously held the distinction from his tenure during the Showtime era.

5)
The Spurs also employ another of the league’s top talents, even though LaMarcus Aldridge had his streak of five straight All-Star appearances snapped this year. Though he is averaging his fewest points (17.5) since his rookie season, Aldridge has been solid defensively and has hit the boards recently for five double-doubles in his last seven games.

6)
Aldridge typically lines up next to former Laker Pau Gasol in San Antonio’s starting frontcourt, but the two-time champion missed the Spurs’ final 15 games before the All-Star break. In his return from injury, the 36-year-old helped his team to victory over the LA Clippers on Friday by contributing 17 points and 11 rebounds off the bench.

7)
The man putting it all together for the Spurs is a legend in his own right, head coach Gregg Popovich. The five-time champion recently ensured San Antonio its 20th-consecutive winning season, which breaks a tie with the Utah Jazz for the longest streak in NBA history.

8)
Popovich’s squad is once again one of the league’s best on both sides of the ball. The Spurs lead the NBA in defensive efficiency, allowing only 101.0 points per 100 possessions. Meanwhile, they also rank fifth in offensive efficiency (110.0), joining Golden State as the only teams in the top five for both.

9)
In the modern NBA, much of San Antonio’s success stems from its ability to control both 3-point lines. On their own, the Spurs knock down a league-high 39.9 percent of their attempts from deep. Meanwhile, they are holding opponents to the third-fewest triples (8.3) on the second-lowest percentage (34.1).

10)
The Spurs’ 3-point shooting is emblematic of their outside-in approach on offense. San Antonio scores a league-high 26.3 points on spot-up attempts, but it also averages the second-fewest points in the paint (39.2).

Injury Report
Lakers:
None.
Spurs: None.

Tip-Off: 12:30 p.m. PT
TV: Spectrum SportsNet and Spectrum Deportes
Radio: 710 ESPN and 1330 KWKW