The Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs face each other in a Western Conference clash, both teams playing their second game of a back-to-back. The Purple & Gold aim to halt a three-game losing streak after being blown out by Phoenix on Tuesday, while the Spurs are riding a four-game winning streak, including a victory over the Jazz last night.

This matchup is a rematch of their earlier season battle, where LeBron James and Anthony Davis combined for an unforgettable performance to edge out San Antonio. The Lakers have struggled recently, but a return to home court could help them bounce back. Meanwhile, the Spurs, led by a red-hot Victor Wembanyama, will look to keep their momentum rolling.

With both teams having expended significant energy in NBA Cup games the night before, this contest might very well come down to who has enough gas left in the tank. As such, let’s look at how many players would actually suit up.

Injury report for Spurs vs Lakers

Both teams come into the game banged up. For the Lakers, Jaxson Hayes (ankle) joined the injury list Tuesday after leaving the Suns game late. Christian Wood (knee) and Jarred Vanderbilt (foot) are still out, and Bronny James (heel) remains sidelined. The absence of Wood and Hayes leaves LA thin in their frontcourt rotations.

But when it comes to the Silver & Black; they might have a slight advantage. The team upgraded Devin Vassell, who missed the Jazz game, to ‘expected’ for the Los Angeles game. His presence gives the team a much-needed scoring boost. However, Jeremy Sochan (thumb) remains unavailable following surgery earlier this month. The team has especially missed his defensive presence and versatility in matchups that require physicality.

With the injury report sorted, why don’t we take a look at what the depth chart looks like?

The depth chart for the Los Angeles-San Antonio clash

The Spurs have gotten amazing support from their rookie since entering the starting lineup! I am referring to none other than this year’s No. 4 pick, Stephon Castle. Taking complete advantage of the opportunity, Castle is averaging 14.3 points and 4.5 assists as a starter, including an impressive 22-point showing against LA earlier this season.

His perimeter defense and late-game poise have been vital to San Antonio’s streak. Victor Wembanyama continues to dominate, coming off a stellar 34-point effort, but he’ll need support to counter Anthony Davis’ imposing presence.

Coming to the Los Angeles Lakers, it goes without saying that Bron and AD remain key pieces. Davis had torched the Spurs, scoring 40 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in their last meeting. And ‘The Brow’ has continued his dominant performance throughout. There is no reason to expect anything different this time from Davis. However, with Wemby on AD, Purple & Gold will likely have to rely on their wings and guards to create space and capitalize on open looks.

The fact of the matter, though, is that both teams are entering the battlefield on short rest. Naturally, we will be looking at a gritty, fast-paced back-and-forth. The Lakers will have to play with a sense of urgency if they plan to get back to being a contender. San Antonio, for their part, will be looking to extend their streak.

Whether it’s a tightly contested thriller or a dominant showing, this matchup will reveal plenty about the grit and resilience of both squads as they navigate the grind of the season.