The San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers squared off in a highly anticipated Western Conference clash at Crypto.com Arena on February 10, 2026, with both teams facing dramatically different circumstances as tip-off approached. While the Spurs rolled into Los Angeles riding a four-game winning streak and boasting one of the healthiest cores in the conference, the Lakers were reeling from a series of injuries to their biggest stars, including LeBron James and Luka Dončić. The matchup, broadcast nationally on NBA TV at 10:30 p.m. ET, promised to test the depth and resilience of both rosters as playoff positioning heated up in the West.
San Antonio, leading the Southwest Division with a 36-16 record, had been on a tear, winning six of its last ten games and surging to the top tier of the conference standings. Their most recent outing was a 138-125 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, a contest that saw rookie sensation Stephon Castle explode for 40 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists, and three steals. The Spurs’ offense had been humming, notching over 130 points in back-to-back games and showing a balance and energy that’s set them apart from their rivals.
Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs’ towering French phenom, continued to be the headline act, averaging 23.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game. Wembanyama’s impact on both ends of the floor has been undeniable, and projections for this game had him pegged to eclipse the 22.5-point mark once again. But it wasn’t just Wembanyama making noise. Castle’s emergence as a playmaker and scorer, Keldon Johnson’s efficient shooting (55.2% from the field, 38.9% from three), and Julian Champagnie’s 85% free-throw shooting have all contributed to San Antonio’s balanced attack. The Spurs’ statistical edge in rebounding (46.6 per game to the Lakers’ 41.2) and shot-blocking (5.13 to 4.06) further underscored their interior dominance.
By contrast, the Lakers entered the night battered and bruised. With a 32-20 record, Los Angeles was still holding onto fifth place in the Western Conference, but their depth was being sorely tested. The injury report read like a who’s who of the Lakers’ rotation: LeBron James (foot), Luka Dončić (hamstring), Austin Reaves (calf), Marcus Smart (ankle), and Adou Thiero (knee) were all ruled out. DeAndre Ayton, the team’s leading rebounder and most efficient scorer (67.6% FG), was listed as questionable with knee soreness, leaving Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt to shoulder much of the load. Hachimura’s hot shooting from beyond the arc (44.9%) and Vanderbilt’s rebounding were bright spots, but generating consistent offense without their stars was a tall order.
The season series between these two teams had already seen its share of drama. The Lakers eked out a 118-116 win on November 5, 2025, thanks to a 35-point outing from Dončić. But the Spurs responded with back-to-back double-digit victories—132-119 on December 10 and 107-91 on January 7—taking a 2-1 lead in the series. In those games, San Antonio’s dominance in the paint and on the glass was evident, with the January matchup featuring a lopsided 66-40 advantage in paint points for the Spurs and a suffocating defensive effort that held the Lakers to just 40% shooting from the field and a frigid 23% from deep.
Betting markets reflected the growing gap between the two squads heading into this contest. Oddsmakers at BetMGM and DraftKings installed the Spurs as heavy favorites, with spreads ranging from -9.5 to -13.5 and moneylines as steep as -614 for San Antonio. The over/under hovered around 224.5 to 227 points, with many analysts noting the recent trend toward lower-scoring games—unders had hit in seven of San Antonio’s last ten and six of the Lakers’ last ten. SportsLine’s advanced projection model, which simulated the game 10,000 times, forecasted a combined score of 232 points and predicted that Wembanyama would lead a balanced Spurs attack with six players scoring in double figures.
“The schedules alone give too much of an edge to the San Antonio Spurs,” noted one expert from Covers.com, referencing the Lakers’ grueling stretch of six games in ten days—including three in four nights—compared to the Spurs’ luxurious two-day break. “Los Angeles is likely to show its exhaustion throughout.” With LeBron James “having fallen short of this modest prop in three straight games and in six of his last seven,” the consensus was that Father Time—and a relentless Spurs defense—were catching up to the Lakers’ remaining veterans.
Injury woes for both teams were not insignificant, but the Spurs’ absences were largely limited to depth players. Lindy Waters III (knee hyperextension), David Jones Garcia (ankle surgery), and Harrison Ingram were all unavailable, but the core rotation remained intact. For Los Angeles, however, the loss of James and Dončić meant the team’s top two scorers and primary playmakers were unavailable, putting immense pressure on the supporting cast to keep pace with San Antonio’s high-octane offense.
Statistically, the matchup was a study in contrasts. While the Lakers boasted a slight edge in field goal percentage (49.91% to the Spurs’ 47.49%) and steals per game (8.21 to 7.65), San Antonio’s advantages in rebounding, rim protection, and overall roster stability were expected to tip the scales. The Spurs’ ability to control the paint and limit second-chance opportunities was seen as a key factor, especially with Ayton’s status in doubt for the Lakers.
Looking at the big picture, the outcome of this showdown carried significant implications for the Western Conference playoff race. For the Spurs, a win would further solidify their status as a legitimate contender and maintain their momentum heading into the stretch run. For the Lakers, the hope was that their role players could rise to the occasion and keep the game competitive until their stars returned to health.
As the action unfolded at Crypto.com Arena, all eyes were on Wembanyama, Castle, and the Spurs’ relentless attack. The Lakers, meanwhile, faced the daunting challenge of holding the line without their marquee names. With the season series—and crucial playoff positioning—on the line, this matchup served as a microcosm of the NBA’s unforgiving grind, where depth, health, and timing can make all the difference.
With the game still in progress and the final outcome yet to be determined, one thing was clear: the Spurs’ surge and the Lakers’ resilience in the face of adversity would shape the narrative of this Western Conference battle well beyond the final buzzer.