The Lakers–Spurs rivalry is a

National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...

(NBA) rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and the

San Antonio Spurs The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio. The Spurs compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Division of the Western Conference (NBA ...

. The rivalry started in the late 1970s and peaked from the late 1990s into the late 2000s. Since 1999, the teams have met in the

NBA playoffs The NBA playoffs is the annual Playoffs, postseason Tournament#Knockout tournaments, tournament of the National Basketball Association (NBA) held to determine the league champion. Since 1949, the four-round, best-of-seven tournament is held afte ...

7 times, with the clubs combining to appear in seven straight

NBA Finals The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern and Western Conference (NBA), Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven series to determine the league ...

from 1999–2005. Additionally, the teams won each NBA Title from 1999–2003 (the Spurs won in 1999 and 2003, while the Lakers won in 2000, 2001, and 2002). From 1999–2004, the rivalry was considered as the NBA's best, as each time the clubs faced each other in the playoffs, the winner advanced to the NBA Finals. The rivalry fell off from 2005–07, with the Lakers missing the playoffs in 2005 and losing in the first round to the Phoenix Suns in 2006 and 2007, but intensified again in 2008 when they met in the Western Conference Finals, and later on, again in the first round of the 2013 Western Conference playoffs. Both teams cemented their status as the NBA dynasties of the 2000s. As of the end of the 2024–25 season, the Lakers are the only team with a winning overall record against San Antonio.

Background

The Lakers were founded as the Detroit Gems in 1946 before relocating to

Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 429,954 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the state's List of cities in Minnesota, most populous city. Locat ...

and renaming themselves the Lakers ( Minnesota's nickname is "The Land of 10,000 Lakes"). The club won several titles led by center George Mikan in the 1950s before moving to

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

in 1960.History of the Lakers
nba.com/lakers, accessed April 18, 2007. In 1972 they won another championship led by center Wilt Chamberlain and point guard Jerry West.Top 10 Teams in NBA History
, nba.com/history, accessed April 17, 2007. After acquiring center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1975 and point guard Magic Johnson in 1979, the Lakers built a team that won 5 titles in the 1980s. With the retirement of Johnson and Abdul-Jabbar, they struggled in the 1990s. However, in 1996 the club acquired free agent center Shaquille O'Neal and traded with the Charlotte Hornets for newly drafted shooting guard Kobe Bryant. With the two maturing under coach Phil Jackson, the club turned into a contender in the early 2000s. The Spurs, meanwhile, were founded as the Dallas Chaparrals in the

American Basketball Association The American Basketball Association (ABA) was a major professional basketball league that operated for nine seasons from 1967 to 1976. The upstart ABA operated in direct competition with the more established National Basketball Association thr ...

in 1967 before moving to

San Antonio, Texas San Antonio ( ; Spanish for "Anthony of Padua, Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the List of Texas metropolitan areas, third-largest metropolitan area in Texa ...

and renaming themselves the Spurs in 1973. When the ABA disbanded in 1976, the Spurs were one of four teams absorbed into the NBA. Led by prolific scorer George Gervin, the Spurs experienced regular season success in the 1970s and 1980s, but were unable to advance out of the Western Conference playoffs.San Antonio Spurs History
nba.com/spurs, accessed April 18, 2007. After struggling in the latter half of the 1980s, they acquired center David Robinson in the 1987 NBA draft and the club's fortunes improved. Although they were competitive in the mid-1990s, they never advanced to the NBA Finals. In 1997, they acquired

power forward The power forward (PF), also known as the four, is one of the five traditional Basketball positions, positions in a regulation basketball game. Traditionally, power forwards have played a role similar to center (basketball), centers and are typi ...

Tim Duncan with the first pick in the draft. The 6'11" Duncan combined with the 7' Robinson to form what was dubbed the " Twin Towers" duo.

Rivalry history

Although the Spurs and Lakers have played each other in the Western Conference since 1981, they weren't considered rivals until 1999, when the Spurs swept the Lakers 4–0, eventually winning their first NBA title. They had met in the 1982, 1983, 1986, 1988, and 1995 NBA Playoffs. In both the 1982 and 1983 playoffs, the Gervin-led Spurs made the Western Conference Finals, but the Lakers of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar eliminated the Spurs each time, preventing Gervin from reaching the

. The Lakers easily swept the Alvin Robertson-led Spurs in the first round of both the 1986 and 1988 playoffs. Then in 1995, the Robinson-led Spurs made the conference finals by eliminating the Lakers, but would lose to the

Houston Rockets The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston. The Rockets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Division of the Western Conference (NBA) ...

in that round. The rivalry intensified with the Lakers' offseason hiring of former Chicago Bulls coach Phil Jackson before the 1999–2000 season. Jackson had previously commented that the Spurs title in 1999 should come with an

asterisk The asterisk ( ), from Late Latin , from Ancient Greek , , "little star", is a Typography, typographical symbol. It is so called because it resembles a conventional image of a star (heraldry), heraldic star. Computer scientists and Mathematici ...

.Deveney, Sean
Team 'tude: the Lakers might not be as good as they were the past three seasons, but they have rediscovered a swagger the Spurs know all too well
, '' The Sporting News'', May 12, 2003, accessed April 15, 2007.* Note article has several pages. Jackson stated this because the title took place during a lockout-shortened season, and the three-time defending champion Bulls team (which Jackson coached) was dismantled before it was able to defend its 1998 title. The following season the Lakers finished with the league's best record, and the Spurs struggled down the stretch after Duncan suffered a knee injury. With Duncan out for the playoffs, the Spurs were defeated 3–1 by the Phoenix Suns, themselves missing

Jason Kidd Jason Frederick Kidd (born March 23, 1973) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is the List of current NBA head coaches, head coach for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Widely regar ...

and Tom Gugliotta, in the first round.2000 Playoff Results
, nba.com/history.com, accessed April 17, 2007. The Lakers, meanwhile, defeated the Indiana Pacers 4–2 in the NBA Finals to win the club's first title since 1988. While the Lakers won the title, there was speculation that the Lakers would not have advanced to the Finals if they had faced the Spurs in the second round of the playoffs. In 2001, the Lakers, having swept the

Portland Trail Blazers The Portland Trail Blazers (colloquially known as the Blazers) are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. The Trail Blazers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division (N ...

and Sacramento Kings, exacted revenge for their 1999 sweep by sweeping the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals.2001 Playoff Results
, nba.com/history, accessed April 17, 2007. The series was very one-sided, with L.A. winning games by 39 and 29 points. They then won their 2nd straight title over the Philadelphia 76ers 4–1. The teams faced off again in the 2002 Western Conference Semifinals. Again, the Lakers beat the Spurs. This time the Lakers won 4–1,2002 Playoff Results
, nba.com/history.com, accessed April 17, 2007. as the Spurs led each game of the series going into the fourth quarter, but won just once. The Lakers went on to sweep the New Jersey Nets in the NBA Finals. The next year, they played in the 2003 Western Conference Semifinals.2003 Playoff Results
, nba.com/history, accessed April 14, 2007. This time, the Spurs ended the Lakers' dynasty in 6 and went on to beat the back-to-back Eastern Conference champion Nets in the 2003 NBA Finals. One of the series' crucial moments came when the Lakers' Robert Horry, a well known clutch shooter, missed a potential game-winning 3 in Game 5. With another title won, David Robinson retired after the season. Robert Horry would then sign the Spurs the following season. In 2004, the teams met again in the Western Conference Semifinals. After the home team won the first 4 games to set the series at 2, the Lakers beat San Antonio on the road in a memorable Game 5. With the Spurs down 72–71 with 5.4 seconds left, Duncan was almost perfectly defended by Shaq and still made an off-balance fadeaway 20-footer to take a 73–72 lead with 0.4 seconds left. After a few timeouts, Derek Fisher received the inbounds pass from Gary Payton and hit a turn-around 18-footer while falling away. Instant replay showed the ball left Fisher's hands with 0.1 seconds left, thus the Lakers escaped with a 74–73 victory. The NBA denied a Spurs protest stating that the clock did not start in time. The Lakers went on to win the series, and advance to the NBA Finals where they lost to the Detroit Pistons. O'Neal was traded to the

Miami Heat The Miami Heat are an American professional basketball team based in Miami. The Heat compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division (NBA), Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern C ...

in the following offseason, and the Lakers missed the playoffs in 2005. Meanwhile, the Spurs won their third NBA Championship over the defending champion Pistons in a long, hard-fought 7-game series. The rivalry became dormant, as the Bryant-led Lakers started anew with a younger nucleus that lost in the first round in 2006 and 2007. Meanwhile, the Spurs were defeated by the

Dallas Mavericks The Dallas Mavericks (often referred to as the Mavs) are an American professional basketball team based in Dallas. The Mavericks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Divisi ...

in the 2006 Western Conference Semifinals 4–3, but rebounded in 2007 to win their 4th Title in 9 years. During the 2007–08 season, Bryant and the rebuilt Lakers reemerged as a contender. With the added help of Pau Gasol, a second-half acquisition from the Memphis Grizzlies, the team received the #1 seed in the West. The Spurs received the #3 seed. They met again in the 2008 Western Conference Finals. In Game 1, the Lakers overcame a 20-point 3rd quarter deficit to win 89–85 en route to defeating the defending champions 4–1 and advance to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Boston Celtics. In the 2008–09 and 2009–10 season, they did not meet in the playoffs. The Spurs were eliminated for the first time in the first round and second round by the

and Phoenix Suns respectively, while the Lakers went on to win the NBA Championship against the Orlando Magic in 2009 and the Boston Celtics in 2010. The 2011 Playoffs was the first time since 2006 that neither appeared in the Western Conference Finals and for only the second time since 1999, neither team made the NBA Finals. A new rivalry was formed with the arrival of Steve Nash and Dwight Howard to the Lakers in 2012. Nash was acquired in a sign-and-trade deal with Phoenix, while Howard was acquired in a blockbuster trade from Orlando Magic that also involved the Philadelphia 76ers and the

Denver Nuggets The Denver Nuggets are an American professional basketball team based in Denver. The Nuggets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division (NBA), Northwest Division of the Western Conference (NBA), W ...

. In their first game of the 2012–13 season, Danny Green hit a game-winner for the Spurs to win 84–82. The Spurs and Lakers met in the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs, with the Spurs holding home-court advantage as they had a 58–24 record in contrast to the Lakers' 45–37 record. Unfortunately, Kobe Bryant was unable to play in this last series between the two teams due to his torn Achilles tendon suffered in a season win against the

Golden State Warriors The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in San Francisco. The Warriors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. Founded in 1946 i ...

. Without their star player, the Lakers were swept by the Spurs 4–0. When the Miami Heat faced against the Spurs in the 2013 NBA Finals, a lot of Laker fans went for the Heat, who would eventually defeat them four games to three in the NBA Finals. In 2014, the Spurs and Heat met in the NBA Finals again, with the dominant Spurs beating the Heat in 5 games. As a result of the 2014 victory, Tim Duncan now has as many championships as Kobe Bryant. On Saturday February 5, Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers went to San Antonio, Texas to play the

for Bryant's final game there. The Spurs honored Kobe Bryant with a 2½ minute video while the spotlight shone on Kobe, seated on the Lakers bench. The video showed highlight plays of Bryant, and interviews with Coach Greg Popovich, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, the Spurs players who have faced Kobe during his entire career. The Spurs won the game 106–102 and Kobe finished the game with 25 points and converted just 9 of his 28 shots. The rivalry flared once more with the arrival of LeBron James and Anthony Davis to the Lakers and DeMar DeRozan to the Spurs, a former Raptors player that was swept by the

Cleveland Cavaliers The Cleveland Cavaliers, often referred to as the Cavs, are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland. The Cavaliers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Divis ...

in the 2017–18 playoffs. James, as a member of the

and the

, has met the Spurs in the

on three occasions, losing in 2007 and 2014 and winning in 2013. In 2019–20 NBA season, the Spurs missed the playoffs for the first time in 23 years, while the Lakers clinched the Playoffs and won the title that season.

Season-by-season results

, - , , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , style=";" , Lakers, , Tie, , style=";" , Lakers
, As part of the merger with the

(ABA), the San Antonio Spurs join the NBA and are placed in the Eastern Conference and the Central Division.
Lakers finish with the best record in the league (53–29). , - , , Tie , , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Lakers
, , - , , Tie , , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Lakers
, , - , , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers
, Lakers win 1980 NBA Finals. , - , - , , style=";" , Spurs , style=";" , , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Lakers
, Spurs move to the Western Conference and the Midwest Division. , - , , style=";" , Spurs , style=";" , , Tie, , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Lakers
, , - style="background:#f2f2f2; font-weight:bold;" , 1982 Western Conference Finals , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers
, 1st postseason series.
Lakers go on to win 1982 NBA Finals. , - , , style=";" , Spurs , style=";" , , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Lakers
, , - style="background:#f2f2f2; font-weight:bold;" , 1983 Western Conference Finals , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers
, 2nd postseason series.
Lakers go on to lose 1983 NBA Finals. , - , , style=";" , Spurs , style=";" , , Tie, , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Lakers
, Lakers lose 1984 NBA Finals. , - , , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Lakers
, Lakers win 1985 NBA Finals. , - , , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers
, , - style="background:#f2f2f2; font-weight:bold;" , 1986 Western Conference First Round , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers
, 3rd postseason series.
In game 1, Lakers beat the Spurs 135–88, their largest victory against the Spurs with a 47-point differential. , - , , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , style=";" , Lakers, , Tie, , style=";" , Lakers
, On March 20, 1987, Lakers beat the Spurs 147–115, their most points scored in a game against the Spurs.
Lakers finish with the best record in the league (65–17).
Lakers win 1987 NBA Finals. , - , , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers
, On November 15, 1987, Lakers beat the Spurs 147–130, tying their most points scored in a game against the Spurs for a second consecutive year.
Lakers sweep the season series over the Spurs for the first time.
Lakers finish with the best record in the league (62–20). , - style="background:#f2f2f2; font-weight:bold;" , 1988 Western Conference First Round , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers
, 4th postseason series.
Lakers go on to win 1988 NBA Finals. , - , , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , style=";" , Lakers, , Tie, , style=";" , Lakers
, Lakers lose 1989 NBA Finals. , - , , Tie , , Tie, , Tie, , style=";" , Lakers
, Lakers win 18 home games in a row against the Spurs.
Lakers finish with the best record in the league (63–19). , - , - , , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , style=";" , Lakers, , Tie, , style=";" , Lakers
, Lakers lose 1991 NBA Finals. , - , , style=";" , Spurs , style=";" , , Tie, , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Lakers
, , - , , Tie , , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers
, Spurs finish with a winning record at Los Angeles for the first time since the 1982 season.
Road teams sweeps the season series for the first time.
Last season Spurs played at HemisFair Arena. , - , , style=";" , Spurs , style=";" , , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Lakers
, Spurs open up Alamodome.
Spurs sweep the season series over the Lakers for the first time. , - , , style=";" , Spurs , style=";" , , Tie, , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Lakers
, Spurs finish with the best record in the league (62–20). , - style="background:#f2f2f2; font-weight:bold;" , 1995 Western Conference Semifinals , style=";" , Spurs , style=";" , , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Lakers
, 5th postseason series.
Spurs win their first playoff series over the Lakers. , - , , style=";" , Spurs , style=";" , , Tie, , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Lakers
, , - , , Tie , , Tie, , Tie, , style=";" , Lakers
, Shaquille O'Neal signs with the Lakers.
Kobe Bryant makes his debut for the Lakers. , - , , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers
, Tim Duncan makes his debut for the Spurs. , - , , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , style=";" , Lakers, , Tie, , style=";" , Lakers
, Last season Lakers played at Great Western Forum.
Spurs finish with the best record in the league (37–13). , - style="background:#f2f2f2; font-weight:bold;" , 1999 Western Conference Semifinals , style=";" , Spurs , style=";" , , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Lakers
, 6th postseason series.
First series matchup between Tim Duncan and Shaquille O'Neal.
Lakers play their final games at Great Western Forum.
Spurs go on to win

1999 NBA Finals The 1999 NBA Finals was the championship round of the shortened 1998–99 NBA season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs took on the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks f ...

, their first NBA championship. , - , , style=";" , Spurs , style=";" , , Tie, , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Lakers
, Phil Jackson becomes the head coach for the Lakers.
Lakers open up Staples Center (now known as Crypto.com Arena).
Following their loss to the Spurs on February 1, 2000, Lakers go on a 19–game winning streak, the second longest in franchise history.
Lakers finish with the best record in the league (67–15).
Lakers win 2000 NBA Finals. , - , - , , Tie , , Tie, , Tie, , style=";" , Lakers
, Spurs finish with the best record in the league (58–24). , - style="background:#f2f2f2; font-weight:bold;" , 2001 Western Conference Finals , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers
, 7th postseason series.
Lakers go on to win 2001 NBA Finals. , - , , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , style=";" , Lakers, , Tie, , style=";" , Lakers
, Last season Spurs played at Alamodome. , - style="background:#f2f2f2; font-weight:bold;" , 2002 Western Conference Semifinals , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers
, 8th postseason series.
Spurs entered the fourth quarter with a lead in four of the five games, but they managed to secure victory in just one of those instances.
Spurs play their final games at Alamodome.
Lakers go on to win 2002 NBA Finals. , - , , style=";" , Spurs , style=";" , , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Lakers
, Spurs open up SBC Center (now known as Frost Bank Center).
Spurs finish with the best record in the league (60–22). , - style="background:#f2f2f2; font-weight:bold;" , 2002 Western Conference Semifinals , style=";" , Spurs , style=";" , , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Lakers
, 9th postseason series.
Spurs go on to win

2003 NBA Finals The 2003 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2002–03 season, and the culmination of the season's playoffs. The Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs played the Eastern Conference ...

. , - , , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , Tie, , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers
, Last season Shaq played for the Lakers, as he would be traded to the

the subsequent season. , - style="background:#f2f2f2; font-weight:bold;" , 2004 Western Conference Semifinals , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Lakers
, 10th postseason series.
In Game 5, Tim Duncan successfully executes a fadeaway jumper over Shaquille O'Neal, putting the Spurs ahead with just 0.4 seconds remaining. However, Derek Fisher responds with a buzzer-beater off the inbounds pass, securing the win for the Lakers.
Lakers go on to lose 2004 NBA Finals. , - , , style=";" , Spurs , style=";" , , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Lakers
, Spurs move to the Southwest Division.
Phil Jackson did not serve as the coach this season for the Lakers, but would be rehired the next season.
Spurs win

2005 NBA Finals The 2005 NBA Finals was the NBA Finals, championship series of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2004–05 NBA season, 2004–05 season, and the culmination of the 2005 NBA playoffs, season's playoffs. The Western Conference (NBA), Wes ...

. , - , , style=";" , Spurs , style=";" , , style=";" , Spurs, , Tie, , style=";" , Lakers
, , - , , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , Tie, , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers
, Spurs win 2007 NBA Finals. , - , , Tie , , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Lakers
, , - style="background:#f2f2f2; font-weight:bold;" , 2008 Western Conference Finals , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , style=";" , Lakers, , Tie, , style=";" , Lakers
, 11th postseason series.
Lakers record their 100th win over the Spurs.
Lakers go on to lose 2008 NBA Finals. , - , , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , style=";" , Lakers, , Tie, , style=";" , Lakers
, Lakers win 2009 NBA Finals. , - , , Tie , , Tie, , Tie, , style=";" , Lakers
, Lakers win 2010 NBA Finals. , - , - , , Tie , , Tie, , Tie, , style=";" , Lakers
, Final season Phil Jackson coached for the Lakers. , - , , style=";" , Spurs , style=";" , , style=";" , Spurs, , Tie, , style=";" , Lakers
, , - , , style=";" , Spurs , style=";" , , Tie, , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Lakers
, , - style="background:#f2f2f2; font-weight:bold;" , 2013 Western Conference First Round , style=";" , Spurs , style=";" , , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Lakers
, 12th postseason series.
In game 3, Spurs beat the Lakers 120–89, the largest home playoff loss for the Lakers in franchise history with a 31-point differential.
Spurs go on to lose 2013 NBA Finals. , - , , style=";" , Spurs , style=";" , , style=";" , Spurs, , Tie, , style=";" , Lakers
, Spurs finish with the best record in the league (62–20).
Spurs win

2014 NBA Finals The 2014 NBA Finals was the NBA Finals, championship series of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2013–14 NBA season, 2013–14 season and the conclusion of 2014 NBA Playoffs, the season's playoffs, played from June 5 to 15, 2014. It ...

. , - , , style=";" , Spurs , style=";" , , style=";" , Spurs, , Tie, , style=";" , Lakers
, Spurs record their 100th win over the Lakers. , - , , style=";" , Spurs , style=";" , , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Lakers
, Final season for Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant. , - , , style=";" , Spurs , style=";" , , style=";" , Spurs, , Tie, , style=";" , Lakers
, On January 12, 2017, Spurs beat the Lakers 134–94, their largest victory against the Lakers with a 40-point differential.
Spurs win 9 away games in a row against the Lakers. , - , , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers
, Lakers finish with a winning record at San Antonio for the first time since the 2006 season. , - , , style=";" , Spurs , style=";" , , Tie, , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Lakers
, On October 22, 2018, Spurs beat the Lakers 143–142 in double overtime, their most points scored in a game against the Lakers. , - , , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers
, Lakers win 2020 NBA Finals. , - , - , , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , style=";" , Spurs, , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers
, , - , , Tie , , Tie, , Tie, , style=";" , Lakers
, Lakers and Spurs miss the playoffs in the same season for the first time. , - , , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers
, , - , , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , style=";" , Lakers, , Tie, , style=";" , Lakers
, With the win, Spurs end an 18-game losing streak, their longest in franchise history.
Lakers win the inaugural 2023 NBA Cup. , - , , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , Tie, , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers
, On November 15, 2025, at San Antonio, the Lakers beat the Spurs 120–115 during the 2024 NBA Cup group stage. , - , - , - , Regular season games , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Spurs, , , - , Postseason games , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Lakers, , , - , Postseason series , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , Tie, , style=";" , Lakers, , Western Conference First Round: 1986, 1988,

2013 2013 was the first year since 1987 to contain four unique digits (a span of 26 years). 2013 was designated as: *International Year of Water Cooperation *International Year of Quinoa Events January * January 5 – 2013 Craig, Alask ...

Western Conference Semifinals: 1995,

1999 1999 was designated as the International Year of Older Persons. Events January * January 1 – The euro currency is established and the European Central Bank assumes its full powers. * January 3 – The Mars Polar Lander is launc ...

, 2002, 2003,

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

Western Conference Finals: 1982,

1983 1983 saw both the official beginning of the Internet and the first mobile cellular telephone call. Events January * January 1 – The migration of the ARPANET to TCP/IP is officially completed (this is considered to be the beginning of the ...

2001 The year's most prominent event was the September 11 attacks against the United States by al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror. The United States led a Participan ...

, 2008 , - , Regular and postseason , style=";" , Lakers , style=";" , , style=";" , Lakers, , style=";" , Spurs, , , -

Individual Records

Top Scorers (Regular Season)

Note: Bold denotes active player, ''italics'' denotes active player for other teams.

Per Game (Regular Season, min. 10 GP)

# LeBron James (LAL) – 27.9 (19 GP) # Anthony Davis (LAL) – 27.4 (16 GP) # DeMar DeRozan (SAS) – 26.1 (10 GP) # Shaquille O'Neal (LAL) – 25.1 (25 GP) # George Gervin (SAS) – 24.9 (35 GP)

Top Scorers (NBA Playoffs)

Per Game (Playoffs, min. 4 GP)

# Kobe Bryant (LAL) – 28.2 (30 GP) # George Gervin (SAS) – 26.5 (10 GP) # Tim Duncan (SAS) – 24.3 (24 GP) # Shaquille O'Neal (LAL) – 23.9 (25 GP) # Norm Nixon (LAL) – 23.0 (10 GP)

References

External links

Article on the rivalry on InsideHoops.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lakers-Spurs Rivalry NBA rivalries San Antonio Spurs Los Angeles Lakers