Here is a by-the-numbers look at the Lakers’ 99-85 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
2
First-time starters for the Lakers. Robert Sacre and rookie Jordan Clarkson both made their first starts of the season, while Ryan Kelly joined the starting five for the third time, and Wayne Ellington took over for Kobe Bryant as first-string shooting guard. Clarkson was one of the few bright spots for the Lakers Friday, as he contributed 11 points, four assists and three rebounds in front of friends and family in his hometown of San Antonio.
“I thought (Clarkson) played really well,” Ellington said. “A rookie, first time starting in his hometown — I know he had a lot of adrenaline pumping, of course. He handled himself great.”
7
Baskets collected by Tony Parker, who led all players in made shots. Despite playing only 23 minutes, Parker shot 7-for-14 from the field to lead the Spurs with 17 points. The 32-year-old also dished out a team-high four assists.
16
San Antonio’s lead after one quarter. The Spurs doubled the Lakers up in the first period, 31-15, by shooting 52.0 percent (13-for-25). L.A., meanwhile, went just 6-for-21 (28.6 percent) from the field with only Clarkson and Nick Young finding much rhythm. Without that duo, the remaining Lakers shot 1-for-14 in the opening frame.
“We got off to a terrible start against a great team, and you just can’t do that,” head coach Byron Scott said. “From that point on, I thought we played pretty well and pretty hard. Just like I told them, though: We have to compete like that every night. We have got to do it for 48 minutes — it can’t be 36.”
17
Points scored by Young. With Bryant out indefinitely, Young (14.5 ppg) is now the Lakers’ leading scorer. The sixth man contributed plenty of scoring in just 20 minutes, shooting 5-for-11, but didn’t do much else. Despite recently talking about wanting to develop the other aspects of his game, Young finished without rebound, assist, steal or block.
52
Rebounds for the Spurs. Led by Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio held a 12-rebound advantage over the Lakers. Leonard grabbed 14 boards, which were just two shy of his career high, while also adding 15 points (6-for-12), three assists and a pair of steals. But it wasn’t just Leonard doing work on the glass, as Tiago Splitter hauled in 11 rebounds.