Victor Wembanyama exhibits a comprehensive skillset on the basketball court. This past Tuesday, he notably displayed his scoring prowess.
The prominent San Antonio Spurs athlete tallied 25 points against the Los Angeles Lakers — all within the initial eight minutes of the contest.
This extraordinary scoring achievement had not been matched by any other Spurs player in the era of play-by-play statistical tracking, which commenced in the 1997-98 season. This historical scope includes the concluding phase of David Robinson’s tenure, Kawhi Leonard’s peak performance years with the Spurs, and the entirety of Tim Duncan’s illustrious career.
He registered points from both close range and beyond the arc, accumulating a majority of these points during a period where he single-handedly accounted for 17 consecutive points for the Spurs.
Wembanyama successfully converted 8 of 9 attempts from the field and 3 of 4 from the three-point line, in addition to securing three rebounds during his early surge. The Spurs established a 47-30 lead against a Lakers team that was without Luka Dončić, LeBron James, or Austin Reaves. This specific missed game marked James’ 18th of the season, which rendered him ineligible for end-of-season accolades and ended his unparalleled 21-year run of All-NBA selections.
By halftime, Wembanyama had collected 37 points, achieved by shooting 12 of 17 from the floor, 10 of 12 from the free-throw line, and 3 of 5 from long range. His stat line also included 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block, a performance that would be considered exceptional for any NBA star over a complete game.
At that point, the Spurs had built an 84-55 advantage over the depleted Lakers. And with San Antonio playing the first match of a back-to-back series, there was minimal incentive to keep him on the court for extended periods after the intermission.
Wembanyama contributed three more points in the third quarter, bringing his total for the evening to 40. This marked his sixth game scoring 40 points or more in his three-season career, surpassing the five 40-point games recorded by Duncan over his 19 seasons.
By the conclusion of that period, the Spurs’ lead had grown to 34 points. From that point, the Spurs comfortably sealed a 136-108 victory without needing any further heroic efforts from Wembanyama. He concluded the game with 40 points on 13 of 20 shooting from the field, along with 12 rebounds and two assists.
Luke Kennard spearheaded the Lakers’ scoring with 14 points and five assists. Drew Timme added 14 points coming off the bench, and Jaxson Hayes ended the game with 13 points. This defeat dropped the Lakers’ record to 32-21. They are scheduled to host the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday for their final game before the All-Star break.
Carter Bryant contributed 16 points off the bench for the Spurs, complementing Wembanyama’s stellar night. Dylan Harper finished with 15 points, and Harrison Barnes added 11. These three players were the only San Antonio teammates, apart from Wembanyama, to reach double-digit scoring.
The Spurs have now secured five consecutive wins, improving their season record to 37-16. They are set to compete against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.
