Game Recap: Spurs Trample Short-Handed Lakers, 120-89. Lead Series 3-0

Apr 26, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers players react as they sit on the bench during game three of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

With no Steve Nash, Steve Blake or Jodie Meeks for the Los Angeles Lakers, game 3 of the NBA Playoffs first round felt more like someone added an 83rd game to the regular season.

Apr 26, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan (21) dunks against the Los Angeles Lakers during game three of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

There’s not much you can ask of tonight’s Lakers team that was led by recently crowned D-League MVP, Andrew Goudelock, who had 20 points and 3 steals, starting in place of (insert name of any injured Lakers backcourt player here). Also for the Lakers, the Howard-Gasol duo with 25 and 11 and 11, 13 and 10 respectively.

For the Spurs, this game was pure domination from the tip. San Antonio shot a blistering 61%, out-rebounded the Lakers by 14, had 11 more assists as a team and 4 more blocks than the purple and gold. Tim Duncan, playing his first game as a 37-year-old, had 26 points (on 75% shooting) and 9 rebounds in 31 masterful minutes. Tony Parker also looked like his normal self, adding 20 points and 7 assists.

The Spurs took an 11-point halftime lead and systematically destroyed the Lakers in the 3rd quarter, with Duncan scoring 10 of his 26 in the quarter, while also frustrating Dwight Howard into foul trouble and a technical foul (which produced this fantastic GIF of Duncan laughing at Howard’s misfortune.)

The Lakers now have the odds against them, down 3-0 in the series. 103 teams have gone down 3-0 in an NBA playoff series and all have failed to comeback and win it. Los Angeles will try to delay the inevitable on Sunday, at home. Tipoff for the Spurs is at 6 PM CST.

Game Notes

• One of the few negatives from tonight’s game, Tiago Splitter twisted his ankle badly towards the end of the 3rd quarter and had to limp to the locker room. He left the arena on crutches and the Spurs medical staff expects Splitter to be out 7-10 days.
• More stats on the Spurs phenomenal 3rd quarter: The Lakers had 63 points heading into the fourth. The Spurs were SHOOTING 63% for the game.
• Danny Green seems to have busted out of his funk slightly. Only one 3-pointer on the night, but Green was slightly more aggressive offensively with 11 points (5/7 shooting), 4 rebounds and 4 assists in just 24 minutes.
• The Spurs shot 61.2% (52/85) in tonight’s game. The Lakers shot 60%…from the free throw line (15/25).

Tweet of the Night

Phil Jackson joining Twitter is the greatest thing to ever happen on the internet. And it’s even better when he’s live-tweeting games. The Zen Master dropped this gem after Tim Duncan’s emphatic alley-oop:

Oh darn, earthquake or was that Duncan’s dunk

— Phil Jackson (@PhilJackson11) April 27, 2013

Well, it was actually an earthquake. But I’m going to pretend what Phil felt was the heart of Lakers fans everywhere, breaking at the exact same moment.

Apparently there was just a 3.2 earthquake in Marina del Rey (where I live). Couldn’t feel it here at Staples, where LAL trail 11-8.

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) April 27, 2013