After resolving the team's internal conflict, the Lakers' next opponents were the Spurs.
Everyone naturally favored the Lakers in this series.
Even Bales, who had always made it his mission to criticize Wang Yi, thought the Lakers would win the series easily in his pregame analysis.
Neither side showed much hostility during the pregame interviews.
In Game 1, the Lakers could say that everyone got in on the scoring. All five of their starters scored at least 20 points.
It was the first time in NBA history that all five starters on one team had scored at least 20 points in a single playoff game.
King Arthur scored 36 points, Wang Yi scored 33, Doncic scored 22, Little Li had 20, and Dun Bao had 20.
Those five alone had beaten the Spurs.
In Game 2, the teams battled hard, and the score was tied at 99 after three quarters.
Then, in the first three minutes of the fourth quarter, Doncic suddenly caught fire and hit three consecutive three-pointers.
The Spurs went cold for three straight possessions, allowing the Lakers to take a nine-point lead.
Both teams maintained similar offensive efficiency from then on, but with that nine-point cushion, the Lakers easily beat the Spurs and took a 2–0 series lead.
In Game 3, with two minutes left in the first half, Dun Bao landed awkwardly after a dunk, stepping on a Spurs player's foot and spraining his ankle.
King Arthur also had a rather ordinary game, scoring only three points in the first half.
Doncic was struggling a bit, too. He made just one of six three-point attempts in the entire first half.
The Lakers had almost made it to halftime on the backs of Wang Yi and Little Rivers alone.
King Arthur picked up in the third quarter,