Victor Wembanyama scored 40 points -25 of them in the first quarter- in the San Antonio Spurs‘ 108-136 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, a game in which the Lakers played without LeBron James, Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves. Wembanyama scored his 25 first-quarter points in an eight-minute span, 17 of them in a row for the Spurs. The Frenchman made eight of his nine field goal attempts, three of four from three-point range.
Defending Wembanyama is unique. I’m one of the smallest players on the court and I’m defending the tallest player in the NBA. It’s definitely a challenge, but I’m up for anything
The Spurs were up 30-47 in the first quarter and 55-84 at halftime. San Antonio’s 84 points is the most ever conceded by the Lakers in a half. Wembanyama sat out the third quarter and did not return as the Spurs took a 41-point lead (74-115) shortly before the end of the quarter. In the final quarter, the Lakers made up the final score to 108-136.
The Frenchman signed a double-double with 40 points and 12 rebounds in just 26 minutes. Rookies Carter Bryant and Dylan Harper contributed 16 and 15, respectively. Stephon Castle had to leave the game after a hard fall when he put a tremendous block on Rui Hachimura.
LaRavia, Hachimura, Hayes, Kennard and Bufkin: the unprecedented quintet of the depleted Lakers
JJ Redick played without James, Doncic and Reaves, but also without Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton. James was sidelined with a foot injury, Doncic with a hamstring injury and Reaves due to minutes management after recovering from a calf injury.
The Lakers’ starters were Jake LaRavia, Rui Hachimura, Jaxson Hayes, Luke Kennard and Kobe Bufkin, a quintet destined to be crushed by a Spurs team flying high in the Western Conference and securing second place during the All-Star break.Kennard, the Lakers’ newest signing, was the top scorer for the Los Angeles team with 14 points, the same as Drew Timme, Redick’s backup and on a two-way contract with the South Bay Lakers of the G League.
Bronny James defends Wembanyama and plays his best game of the season with the Lakers
Bronny James, the son of LeBron James, played 25 minutes in which he had time to score 12 points (3 of 8 from the field and 2 of 2 from three-point range), 3 rebounds and 6 assists in his best performance of the season.
“Defending Wembanyama is unique, no doubt about it. I’m one of the smallest players on the court and I’m defending the tallest player in the NBA. It’s definitely a challenge, but I’m up for anything,” Bronny said after the game.
Bronny James, who has played in 27 games for the Lakers this season, is averaging 1.9 points, 0.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 6.8 minutes
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