
Durant out for Game 1 vs. Lakers with knee inury
Kevin Durant will miss Game 1 against the Lakers due to a knee injury.
Atlético Madrid lost the Copa del Rey final to Real Sociedad, 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Coach Diego Simeone expressed disappointment but praised his team's effort.
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âFirst of all, Iâd like to congratulate the opposition. They played exactly the game they needed to. We didnât start well, although we did respond to the first goal. We equalised but then lost our intensity again, they were more intense despite there not being many clear-cut chances. The second goal came, and at half-time we talked about changing our approach. âThe second half was exactly how we needed to play. We made it 2-2 and could have scored a third through Baena or Johnny, but the ball just wouldnât go in. We went into extra time, and we each had a chance: JuliĂĄnâs hit the crossbar and Musso made a good save from theirs. We competed well, the players gave everything they had. Unfortunately, the penalties went their way. We congratulate them. Thereâs not much else to say.â
The final ended in a 2-2 draw, with Real Sociedad winning 4-3 on penalties.
Diego Simeone was devastated by the loss but praised his team's effort and acknowledged the need for improvement.
Simeone noted that the team started poorly but improved in the second half, creating chances but ultimately falling short in penalties.
Simeone suggested that playing against Barcelona just four days prior contributed to a dip in intensity during extra time.

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âHaving played 90 minutes against Barça four days ago, itâs normal for the team to have had that dip in extra time. Even so, I think we did well. Apart from those 10 minutes at the start of the match, we were solid and the team gave everything they had.â
âThe fans need a win, they donât need messages.â
âWe didnât start the first half well. From the 15th minute onwards we began to improve, showing intensity, depth and link-up play. Then we slipped back a bit into what you mentioned: less intensity, less ball recovery, fewer duels won. They didnât create many chances, but we didnât play as we did in the second half.â
âIâm not thinking about Arsenal. This really hurts. We needed to win and we couldnât. We all gave it our all and that gives me some peace of mind.â
âI understood that with SĂžrloth up front we could create more chances and that JuliĂĄn could fulfil the role Lookman was playing. Then we moved Baena out to the left. Thatâs how I understood the substitution.â