The Lakers are using their size to stay in this one, and Steve Blake has proven an admiral replacement for Kobe Bryant thus far. The Spurs haven't hit great shots, outside of Tim Duncan, but their stingy defense has been efficient through the first half. Duncan led the Spurs with 13 points, Dwight Howard led LA with 14 and Pau Gasol racked up 10 boards.
In the second half, the Spurs simply wore the Lakers down. LA wasn't able to get anything going offensively without Bryant, and Gasol preferred to play away from the basket despite his success in the paint. D12 led the Lakers with 20 and 15, but Manu Ginobli and Tony Parker both scored 18 points while Tim Duncan chipped in 17. San Antonio got it done, 91-79.
Here's how it went down on Twitter.
RT @lakerstv: VINE: The Lakers have taken the floor for pregame warm up. #GoLakers vine.co/v/bUYzgOzWeTr
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 21, 2013
RT @pintolakers: Nice surprise. Jordan Hill has been activated by the Lakers. He won't play. But he's active. twitter.com/PintoLakers/st…
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 21, 2013
Lakers, Spurs at a pretty up-tempo pace to start the game. That's not good for the Lakers, who want things much slower. Spurs leading 4-2.
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) April 21, 2013
Lakers make their first shot, then miss 6 straight before Pau cashes in from 16 feet out. Down 7-4 early. STATS: on.nba.com/ZGui8c
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 21, 2013
Just feels very weird watching the Lakers without Kobe on the floor.
— Jason McIntyre (@TheBigLead) April 21, 2013
All this talk about the Lakers being an inside-out team and then Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol nail consecutive jumpers
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 21, 2013
First timeout of the game with the Spurs leading the Lakers 13-10 halfway through the 1st. Welcome back, playoffs.
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) April 21, 2013
Manu wastes no time, knocking down a corner 3 to put the Spurs up 19-10. Timeout @lakers! on.nba.com/13pktyP #GoSpursGo
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 21, 2013
With 2:57 left in first quarter, against Spurs in their big-boy pants, Lakers have scored 10 points..pick up the phone, Kobe…
— Bill Plaschke (@BillPlaschke) April 21, 2013
Even with Nash back, shooting for Lakers sans Kobe still a problem as they start off with a 33.3 percentage while down 19-10 to Spurs.
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) April 21, 2013
Spurs hold the @lakers to 35% from the field, lead 24-15 at the end of the first. on.nba.com/13pktyP#GoSpursGo
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 21, 2013
Nash in the Lakers' huddle: "We've got to hit shots!" They're 5 for 15 (33.3%). … SA 19, LAL 10.
— KEVIN DING (@KevinDing) April 21, 2013
With 8:51 to play in the 1st half, the Spurs lead the Lakers 28-18. Duncan leads SA with 8 pts. on.nba.com/13pktyP #GoSpursGo
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 21, 2013
Faaantastic. RT @nbasportscity: Aaaaaaannnnnnd another Lakers injury. Jodie Meeks turned his ankle on the fast break.
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) April 21, 2013
Greg Popovich is quite proficient at sign language. bit.ly/XYCoOm
— SB Nation GIF (@SBNationGIF) April 21, 2013
.@spurs lead @lakers 28-24 after Dwight Howard slam. Nash, Howard, Gasol with six points each. 7:11 left 2nd quarter. ow.ly/1VuEL9
— SI NBA (@si_nba) April 21, 2013
And just like that, the Lakers draw to within 28-24. This is our tempo, be patient on offense and the shots will start to fall. #GoLakers
— Steve-O (@lakersEDGE) April 21, 2013
Lakers suddenly back in the game, scoring 8-0 – almost 4 minutes without a Spurs point
— Eric Pincus (@EricPincus) April 21, 2013
Spurs back up by 9!!!
— Mandii B (@FullCourtPUMPS) April 21, 2013
Kawhi 3 and Bonner two give Spurs 35-26 lead. 4:39 left second. Darius Morris is getting minutes for LA now….in a playoff game!!
— ESPN SA (@ESPN1250) April 21, 2013
Pau Gasol to Dwight Howard Take 2 on this #NBARapidReplay – on.nba.com/XPxXDl
— NBA (@NBA) April 21, 2013
My TL is so misleading. It seem as if the Lakers are doing good and have the lead then I turn the game on and they're down by 10 -_____-
— Sam Tsekov(@Sam_U_IL) April 21, 2013
Tim Duncan the Wonderfamazerrific.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) April 21, 2013
Metta's hustle created a 3-pointer for Blake there. Big possession before the half.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 21, 2013
Here's your first Hack-a-Howard of the game. Dwight goes 2-for-2
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 21, 2013
Spurs up 45-37 heading into hlaftime. Duncan with 13 points. Howard had 14 for Lakers.
— Jeff McDonald (@JMcDonald_SAEN) April 21, 2013
With Parker held to 3 for 12, Lakers' defense keeps them in it: Spurs 45, Lakers 37 at halftime.
— KEVIN DING (@KevinDing) April 21, 2013
Lakers are shooting a putrid 17-44 (38.6%) from the field and an even uglier 1-7 (14.3%) from 3PT range. That won't get it done.
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) April 21, 2013
With 6:45 to play in the 3rd, Spurs lead Lakers 50-43. Duncan with 13 points and 7 rebounds. #GoSpursGo on.nba.com/13pktyP
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 21, 2013
OK, here we go. Lakers kept it close against good teams in the regular season but couldn't close unless it was a bad team. Gotta change now.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) April 21, 2013
Huge push by the Lakers. After going down by 9, they've cut it to 4. Down by just 52-48, currently on a 9-2 run. 5:26 to play in Q3.
— Dime Update (@DimeUpdate) April 21, 2013
#KOBE is right. #lakers could steal this game because #Spurs are missing jump shots all day long. Howard needs to prove that he belongs!
— JT The Brick (@JTTheBrick) April 21, 2013
Lakers must be within 6 point of Spurs by end of Q3 to have a chance. Big 4 minutes.
— Got 'Em Coach (@GotEm_Coach) April 21, 2013
Pau Gasol is in range for his 3rd triple-double in his last 4 games: 6 pts, 10 reb, 6 ast. But he's just 3-for-10 from the field
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 21, 2013
Tim Duncan is 37 in three days. Kevin Garnett is 37 in 3 weeks. Andre Miller is 37 right now. Also 37: Allen Iverson.
— Sean Fennessey (@sean_fennessey) April 21, 2013
#Lakers are playing Bad, but its still a close game… Lakers can easily steal this one…#NBAPlayoffs
— The Reggy Brown (@RBrown8032) April 21, 2013
Steve Blake stays hot. He's 4-7 from the field and the Lakers are down only six w/ 2:30 left in the 3rd.
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) April 21, 2013
LAKERS. RT @jmcdonald_saen: Lakers fan behind press row screaming at "Joey" Crawford for that last foul call. Danny Crawford is the referee.
— Tom Ziller (@teamziller) April 21, 2013
Four fouls for Dwight already… #SMH. Playoffs without Kobe is like peanut butter without jelly, It just aint right #Spurs #Lakers #NBA
— KnicksTape (@KnicksTape) April 21, 2013
Huge 1:45 for the Lakers. Duncan and Parker on the bench.
— LA LakersNation PH (@LakersNation_PH) April 21, 2013
Steve Blake crosses over Tony Parker: Steve Blake dribbled right to the baseline and routinely entered the bal… bit.ly/11AQD7D
— DJingle (@sire_jingle) April 21, 2013
Classic Ginobili. Pull-up 3, Spurs up 12 and the crowd is back in it.
— dan mccarney (@danmccarneysaen) April 21, 2013
LAL end the 3rd in the worst way possible, a transition Ginobili 3, his 2nd in the last few minutes. Spurs up 70-57 into the 4th.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) April 21, 2013
The Big Fundamental still teaching on the court with 17 points & 8 boards after 3. The @spurs lead the @lakers 70-57. Dwight has 14-11.
— NBA (@NBA) April 21, 2013
Lakers down 70-57 to Spurs in 3rd Q. They'd have a fighting chance if Pau actually played in the post.
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) April 21, 2013
LAL trails 70-57 heading into the 3rd. They're actually shooting a better pct (40.4) than the Spurs (39.7), but have 8 more turnovers
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 21, 2013
Ginobili shakes off rust and hamstring: 18 points in 16 minutes. … SA 70, LAL 57 entering 4Q.
— KEVIN DING (@KevinDing) April 21, 2013
Heckuva run by San Antonio last few minutes. #analysis
— Tom Ziller (@teamziller) April 21, 2013
Spurs go 5 minutes w/o a FG, then Manu scores 8 points in 1:25 to close quarter. Spurs with largest lead, 70-57, heading to fourth.
— Jeff McDonald (@JMcDonald_SAEN) April 21, 2013
“Kobe, get up here,” D’antoni screamed then lit a huge joint.“Kobe’s out for the season coach.”“What?” D’antoni said, coughing up smoke.
— netw3rk (@netw3rk) April 21, 2013
Pau Gasol out here cooking Matt Bonner
— Lang Greene (@LangGreene) April 21, 2013
You hear what Pop said? "let the system do its work" … that's what I've always pointed to when I keep Parker out of my top 3 PG list
— Vince Thomas (@vincecathomas) April 21, 2013
Nash (hamstring) is 5 for 14 from the field and winced when he had to go faster in trying to get back on defense. … SA 76, LAL 63.
— KEVIN DING (@KevinDing) April 21, 2013
Not looking good for the Lakers. Spurs leading 76-64 with 7:46 left in the 4th. bit.ly/YE3a9U
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) April 21, 2013
Now Pau draws a foul in the paint and heads to the stripe. Gasol goes 1-for-2. Lakers down 78-66 with 7:16 left.
— Lakerholicz (@Lakerholicz) April 21, 2013
Steve Nash has moved only slightly better than Mike D'Antoni this game
— J.A. Adande (@jadande) April 21, 2013
Someone needs to inform Chicago, Atlanta, & LA Lakers that this the #NBAPlayoffs. "Go hard or go home!" They all drank the wrong Gatorade.
— Patrick R. Steward (@daftpatrick) April 21, 2013
Someone needs to inform Chicago, Atlanta, & LA Lakers that this the #NBAPlayoffs. "Go hard or go home!" They all drank the wrong Gatorade.
— Patrick R. Steward (@daftpatrick) April 21, 2013
Pau Gasol was 6 of 27 vs Spurs in two games this season. He's 6 of 15 today.
— Jeff McDonald (@JMcDonald_SAEN) April 21, 2013
Howard on Bonner doesn't work well for Lakers
— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballSource) April 21, 2013
Bang! The Red Mamba's 3 puts the @spurs ahead of the @lakers 84-68 with 4:05 left in the 4th.
— NBA (@NBA) April 21, 2013
Don't you sports amateurs ever discount Kobe's contribution again. There's no resemblance of a killer left on that squad now.
— George Papadopoulos (@GeorgeFoster72) April 21, 2013
Nash's night ends with the Lakers down 15 with 2:30 remaining. He gave it his all, but he was off – 16 pts on 6-of-15, 3 ast, 1 turnover
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 21, 2013
Who would've thought a D'Antoni team would hold its opponent to sub 40 pct in a playoff game and lose because it couldn't break 80 pts?
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 21, 2013
VIDEO: Kawhi Leonard goes "Top Gun" on Metta World Peace. cbsprt.co/12yvPSa
— Eye on Basketball (@EyeOnBasketball) April 21, 2013
Tim Duncan has a skull on his knee brace!
— HELLO my name is (@JohnCTownsend) April 21, 2013
D'Antoni finally calls off the fouls, yelling: "Let it go, let it go …" SA 91, LAL 79 in Game 1.
— KEVIN DING (@KevinDing) April 21, 2013
The Old Gaurd of Duncan (17p-10r), Parker (18p-8a) & Manu (18p) help lift the @spurs over the @lakers 91-79 in Game 1.#SPURSvLAKERS
— NBA (@NBA) April 21, 2013
The Spurs take Game 1, 91-79. Dwight had 20 & 15, Pau had 16 & 16, the Spurs shot 37.6 pct and the Lakers still lost by double digits.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 21, 2013
FINAL: Spurs 91, Lakers 79. Spurs take a 1-0 series lead. San Antonio shot just 37% from the field.
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) April 21, 2013
D'Antoni better get on twitter. LinkedIn too.
— Myles Brown (@mdotbrown) April 21, 2013
