Spurs vs Lakers – Down three starters and shorthanded yet again this season, the Lakers were undone by a slow start against the very Spurs they beat two days prior as the hosts snapped their 18-game losing streak with a 129-115 victory.
It was the second of back-to-back games between the teams over three nights in the Alamo City. The Lakers won the first game in the set on Wednesday without LeBron James, who sat out with a left calf contusion. Los Angeles could not repeat that win on Friday with James in the lineup but without three starters — Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell and Cam Reddish — due to nagging injuries.
Spurs vs Lakers – Wembanyama & Devin Vassell snap Spurs losing streak
French sensation Victor Wembanyama came out on top in his first tussle with NBA superstar LeBron James Friday as the San Antonio Spurs snapped their 18-game losing streak with a 129-115 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Wembanyama, whose arrival in the league has been compared to that of James 20 years ago, scored 13 points and grabbed 15 rebounds with five assists, two blocked shots and two steals.
It was the 19-year-old rookie’s fifth game this season with multiple blocks and multiple steals.
San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama embraced Devin Vassell in a jubilant hug before exhorting the crowd at the Frost Bank Center to rise to their feet in celebration.
If San Antonio’s reaction to a regular-season victory seemed out of place, it’s because the Spurs haven’t had much practice at it this season.
Vassell had a career-high 36 points, Wembanyama had 13 points and 15 rebounds, and the Spurs snapped an 18-game losing skid, defeating the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers 129-115 on Friday night.
The victory was San Antonio’s first since beating Phoenix on Nov. 2. It was the longest losing streak in franchise history, topping the 16-game skid last season.
LeBron James did all he could to try to will the Lakers to victory on the night, finishing with 23 points, 14 assists and seven rebounds. Moved to the starting lineup on the night, Austin Reaves had 22 points, going 4-10 from the 3-point line along with seven rebounds and four assists. Rui Hachimura hitting 20 and Christian Wood tallying 17 — both off the bench — and Taurean Prince contributing 12 points.
Anthony Davis sat out with a hip injury, Los Angeles was also without starters D’Angelo Russell (migraine) and Cam Reddish (right knee soreness).
“Our team is not built to have three starters out,” James said, “but you can give credit where credit is due. San Antonio played great tonight. They shot the ball extremely well.”
James said his first clash with Wembanyama only reinforced his previous assessment that the highly touted rookie is a “special talent.”