Thrilling Finish: Lakers vs. Spurs
In a nail-biting finish to their game on Wednesday night, the Los Angeles Lakers narrowly defeated the San Antonio Spurs with a score of 118-116. With just 1.2 seconds left on the clock and leading by two points, a critical mistake by Marcus Smart almost derailed the Lakers’ victory. While attempting to pass the ball inbounds to Rui Hachimura, Smart inadvertently stepped on the end line, resulting in a turnover that gave the Spurs a chance to tie the game.
Last-Minute Drama
As the clock ticked down, Julian Champagnie, after receiving the ball, was fouled by Lakers forward Jake LaRavia with only 0.2 seconds remaining. Champagnie missed his first free throw, then intentionally failed to make the second shot in an attempt to create a last-second opportunity for a tip-in. However, the Lakers successfully defended their slim lead, concluding the match with them on top.
Smart’s Reflection
Post-game, Smart took full responsibility for his misstep, expressing disbelief at the situation. “I couldn’t believe it; I think when I released the ball, they said I stepped over the line,” Smart recounted. He added, “We often see plays where someone barely tips over the line without a call, but this time it went against me. If I had made a clean pass to Hachimura, the game would have been done with no chance for them to foul.”
The experienced player, who recorded an impressive stat line of 17 points, five rebounds, and five assists with a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line, acknowledged the significance of his mistake and stressed that it would not be repeated.
“As a 12-year veteran, I can’t afford that kind of error. It’s crazy. I take full ownership of it, and I know my teammates will give me some ribbing about it, but they get it. It will never happen again, I promise,” he remarked.
Lakers’ Strong Position
This victory marked the Lakers’ fifth straight win, positioning them second in the Western Conference at a commendable 7-2 record. Notably, Luka Doncic shone as the leader for the Lakers with an impressive tally of 35 points, along with 13 assists, 9 rebounds, and 5 steals, despite the absences of star players LeBron James and Austin Reaves due to injuries. In the aftermath of the game, Doncic seemed to forgive Smart’s blunder, praising his defensive energy and leadership:
“He does things I’ve never seen before, like how he dives for the ball; his communication and leadership are everything for us. Honestly, having him on our team is unbelievable.”
