The San Antonio Spurs’ Keita Bates-Diop reacts as he is fouled by the Lakers’ Jemerrio Jones, back, in front of the Lakers’ Isaiah Thomas during the first half on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ LeBron James, left, drives past the San Antonio Spurs’ Keldon Johnson during the first half on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Lakers’ Rajon Rondo handles the ball during the first half of their game against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Keldon Johnson, left, battles for a rebound with the Lakers’ Wayne Ellington during the first half on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Lonnie Walker IV reacts after making a 3-point shot during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Thursday night at Staples Center. The Spurs were 18 for 39 from 3-point range in their 138-110 win. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Lakers’ Talen Horton-Tucker drives toward the basket during the first half of their game against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Keita Bates-Diop is fouled by the Lakers’ Wayne Ellington during the first half on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ LeBron James handles the ball during the first half of their game against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Lakers’ Carmelo Anthony, center, reaches for a loose ball as the San Antonio Spurs’ Keldon Johnson watches during the first half on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Keita Bates-Diop scores over the Lakers’ Isaiah Thomas during the first half on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ LeBron James, center, is defended by the San Antonio Spurs’ Jakob Poeltl, left, and Dejounte Murray during the first half on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Lakers’ LeBron James drives to the basket during the first half of their game against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Keldon Johnson scores on a layup past the Lakers’ Talen Horton-Tucker, center, and Dwight Howard during the first half on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich argues a call after a timeout as Keita Bates-Diop leaves the court during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ LeBron James tries to block a shot by the San Antonio Spurs’ Jakob Poeltl during the first half on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Dejounte Murray shoots over the Lakers’ Carmelo Anthony during the first half on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ LeBron James dunks during the first half of their game against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Keldon Johnson is fouled by Lakers center Dwight Howard during the first half on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Lakers center Dwight Howard celebrates a defensive play during the first half of their game against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Derrick White attempts a shot in front of the Lakers’ Talen Horton-Tucker during the first half on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ Talen Horton-Tucker handles the ball during the first half of their game against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Dejounte Murray reacts as he is stripped of the ball by Lakers center Dwight Howard, right, during the first half on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ LeBron James, top left, looks to pass while under pressure from the San Antonio Spurs’ Jock Landale, center, and Keldon Johnson during the first half on Thursday night at Staples Center. James had 36 points, nine rebounds and six assists, but it wasn’t nearly enough in a 138-110 loss. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Lakers’ LeBron James smiles as he makes his way down the court during the first half of their game against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Lakers’ Isaiah Thomas drives to the basket as the San Antonio Spurs’ Jock Landale, center, and Derrick White defend during Thursday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Lakers assistant head coach David Fizdale, running the team with Frank Vogel in the COVID-19 protocols, watches play from the sidelines during Thursday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Lonnie Walker IV, right, drives past the Lakers’ Isaiah Thomas during the second half on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich listens to referee Justin Van Duyne during Thursday’s game against the Lakers at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ LeBron James scores past the San Antonio Spurs’ Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson during Thursday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Dejounte Murray, center, is double-teamed by the Lakers’ LeBron James, left, and Russell Westbrook during the second half on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Lakers’ Russell Westbrook drives to the basket between the San Antonio Spurs’ Keldon Johnson, right, and Keita Bates-Diop during Thursday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ Russell Westbrook reacts after a loss of possession during Thursday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ Talen Horton-Tucker drives to the basket as the San Antonio Spurs’ Tre Jones defends during Thursday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ Carmelo Anthony reacts as he loses a rebound to the San Antonio Spurs’ Dejounte Murray, left, and Keldon Johnson during Thursday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ LeBron James, center, reacts to a foul call on his team during the second half of their game against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Lakers’ LeBron James argues a call with referee Justin Van Duyne during Thursday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ LeBron James, center, and DeAndre Jordan dispute a call with referee Justin Van Duyne during Thursday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ LeBron James walks on the court during the second half of their game against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Keita Bates-Diop dunks during the second half of their game against the Lakers on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Lakers’ Jemerrio Jones and the San Antonio Spurs’ Keita Bates-Diop reach for a rebound during Thursday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Derrick White shoots while pressured by the Lakers’ Isaiah Thomas during the second half on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Lakers guard Russell Westbrook waits for a free throw during Thursday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Keita Bates-Diop, center, celebrates their 138-110 victory over the Lakers as he walks off the court on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ Carmelo Anthony looks on before during Thursday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Lakers center Dwight Howard warms up during a pregame presentation before their game against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Davis Gaines sings the national anthem before Thursday’s game between the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Davis Gaines sings the national anthem before Thursday’s game between the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Davis Gaines sings the national anthem before Thursday’s game between the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Former Lakers Metta Sandiford-Artest smiles while seated courtside during a game between the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Lakers championship trophies are displayed during a ceremony to say farewell to the Staples Center name during Thursday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs. The Lakers did a number of things to celebrate their first 22 years in the venue, which will officially be renamed Crypto.com Arena on Christmas Day. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Lakers championship trophies are displayed during a ceremony to say farewell to the Staples Center name during Thursday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs. The Lakers did a number of things to celebrate their first 22 years in the venue, which will officially be renamed Crypto.com Arena on Christmas Day. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
From left, former Lakers Robert Horry, Metta Sandiford-Artest, Luke Walton, Byron Scott and Gary Payton pose for photos during a ceremony to say farewell to the Staples Center name during Thursday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs. The Lakers did a number of things to celebrate their first 22 years in the venue, which will officially be renamed Crypto.com Arena on Christmas Day. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A Crypto.com Arena sign hangs outside Staples Center before Thursday night’s game between the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs. The venue will officially be renamed Crypto.com Arena on Christmas Day. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A Crypto.com Arena sign hangs outside Staples Center before Thursday night’s game between the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs. The venue will officially be renamed Crypto.com Arena on Christmas Day. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A Crypto.com Arena sign hangs outside Staples Center before Thursday night’s game between the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs. The venue will officially be renamed Crypto.com Arena on Christmas Day. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
A Crypto.com Arena sign hangs outside Staples Center before Thursday night’s game between the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs. The venue will officially be renamed Crypto.com Arena on Christmas Day. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES — It was fitting that on Thursday night, the Lakers as a franchise were largely looking back fondly on their 22 seasons at Staples Center.
It’s hard to feel as warm about the immediate future.
The San Antonio Spurs (13-18) ran over the Lakers, 138-110, in a game that never felt particularly close. LeBron James scored 36 points and Russell Westbrook had 30, but the supporting cast fell flat, with the Spurs’ bench outscoring their Lakers counterparts 69-20 and the Lakers surrendering the most points they’ve given up in regulation this season.
It was striking how the Spurs, who the Lakers beat with ease on Nov. 14, decimated the short-handed Lakers, hitting 18 3-pointers against their discombobulated defense. When asked what will make it better, James was blunt.
“We don’t need a full roster,” he said. “We just need a lot of our guys back.”
The four-game slide is the longest of the season so far, and while the Lakers (16-17) might have better than a puncher’s chance against the similarly banged-up Brooklyn Nets on Christmas Day, the one-sided loss on Thursday night painted a grim portrait of the franchise’s circumstances. They are winless since Anthony Davis sprained his knee in Minnesota, an injury that is expected to keep the All-Star big man out for at least one month.
The Lakers could not capitalize on a valiant effort by their healthy stars. James scored 23 of the team’s first 45 points while burying shots and driving in for kick-outs at a superstar level. But it was clear early on – as San Antonio buried its hosts in a barrage of 3-point baskets – that another one of his big performances would be in a vacuum.
Westbrook also started to rally in the third quarter, when he scored 17 of his points while sprinting headlong toward the rim. The peak of this flurry was still frustratingly far out of reach of the Spurs: In quick succession, Westbrook scored on an and-one drive, then got the crowd rolling with a 3-pointer from the wing to cut the stubborn Spurs’ lead to nine.
“To the Spurs’ credit, they carved us up,” interim coach David Fizdale said. “Four quarters over 30 points. They really dismantled us and did everything they needed to do to win the game.
San Antonio, which led by double digits for the majority of the night, took both punches in stride. The Spurs answered Westbrook’s baskets with a 3-pointer and a reverse layup by Keita Bates-Diop, who finished with 30 points.
Coming off the bench, Bates-Diop hit all 11 of his shots, including five 3-pointers. He outscored the Laker reserves by himself. The Spurs’ bench had 69 points total, highlighting just how thin the Lakers’ rotation has become, largely due to positive coronavirus tests.
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The Lakers had five players in the COVID-19 protocols on Thursday night: Malik Monk, Avery Bradley, Austin Reaves, Kent Bazemore and Trevor Ariza. Ariza was only added on Thursday morning after playing his first two games of the season following a preseason ankle injury. Considering Ariza started the season 5 for 5 from the field, it was clear the Lakers could have used his stroke.
Westbrook rattled off the challenges the Lakers have faced in the last week-and-a-half, including Davis’ injury and new lineups every night. Though the Lakers were able to start veteran center Dwight Howard for the first time since he rejoined the team from protocols, it was another starting lineup that had never played together before.
From the high the Lakers felt in Dallas, when they won in overtime, they’ve sunk a long way. But Westbrook thinks they’ll find a way back. At some point.
“It’s a lot of things that’s happened within the past week and a half,” he said. “So yes I would say yes, we’ve had some ups where we feel confident in how we were moving, moving direction, our defense was great, we was moving in a good direction defensively and I felt great about it, so that’s why I don’t panic, and that’s why I’m optimistic about our team.”
“We don’t need a full roster. All our defensive guys are in protocols–Avery, Baze, TA, and Austin.” LeBron discusses the absence of the #Lakers‘ defensive cornerstones and looks ahead to the Christmas showdown with the Nets. @geeter3pic.twitter.com/RrugnvQdIb
“Figure it out. That’s all you can do is figure it out.” Russell Westbrook on the constant change in lineups and guys in and out of health and safety protocols. @geeter3pic.twitter.com/XlUORABoTj
