Spurs Route Lakers, NBA Scores

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Published on February 27 2017 6:22 am
Last Updated on February 27 2017 6:22 am

By ESPN

With the Los Angeles Lakers in the middle of their latest franchise upheaval, the San Antonio Spurs showed their young opponents what steady excellence looks like.

Kawhi Leonard scored 25 points and the Spurs routed the Lakers 119-98 on Sunday in Los Angeles' first home game since Magic Johnson took over the franchise's basketball operations.

Pau Gasol added 15 points against his former team, which has lost four straight and 15 of 19. Five days ago, Lakers owner Jeanie Buss fired her top two basketball executives, including her brother, and put Johnson in charge.

Gasol left the Lakers as a free agent three years ago at the start of their descent into the worst four-season stretch in franchise history. After his stormy history with Hollywood's favorite team, Gasol has a special appreciation for the drama-free winning environment created by Gregg Popovich, R.C. Buford and the Spurs.

"The Spurs' record and trajectory over the last 19 seasons speaks for itself," Gasol said. "It's just a model of consistency, excellency and how to get it done. The way they build the culture around here is really impressive. I'm just glad to be a part of it, and now let's see if we can do something special."

LaMarcus Aldridge had 16 points for the Spurs, who wrapped up their eight-game road trip with six victories. San Antonio has won four straight and nine of 11 overall, steadily cruising toward a Southwest Division title and another playoff run in six weeks.

TIP-INS

Spurs: Gasol played 20 minutes in his second game back from a 15-game absence with a broken left hand. Gasol, who won two NBA titles in Los Angeles, got a warm ovation from Lakers fans. ... USC product Dewayne Dedmon had 11 points and nine rebounds. The Spurs' unlikely starting big man is another product of LA's far-flung suburbs, growing up in Lancaster.

Lakers: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar received a standing ovation at halftime when the Lakers honored him for his social activism. ... The game was just the Lakers' second home game in February and their third home game in five weeks. After playing eight of their previous 10 on the road, they began a four-game homestand.


Sunday, February 26 Scoreboard

San Antonio 119, Los Angeles lakers 98

Milwaukee 100, Phoenix 96

Memphis 105, Denver 98

Utah 102, Washington 92

Toronto 112, Portland 106

Boston 104, Detroit 98

Oklahoma City 118, New Orleans 110

Los Angeles Clippers 124, Charlotte 121 (OT)


Monday, Feburary 27 Schedule

Toronto at New York, 6 p.m.

Golden State at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.

Milwaukee at Cleveland, 6 p.m.

Atlanta at Boston, 6:30 p.m.

Miami at Dallas, 7:30 p.m.

Indiana at Houston, 8:30 p.m.

Minnesota at Sacramento, 9:30 p.m.