LOS ANGELES – French sensation Victor Wembanyama simply wanted to win as he came out on top in his first tussle with LeBron James on Dec 15, as the San Antonio Spurs snapped their 18-game losing streak with a 129-115 home victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Two days after falling to the Lakers in a National Basketball Association (NBA) game that James sat out because of a calf issue, the Spurs halted the longest losing streak in franchise history.
Devin Vassell scored a career-high 36 points for San Antonio and seven Spurs players – including Wembanyama – scored in double figures.
No. 1 draft pick 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.
“This is what I’m addicted to, winning, this is what I love,” said Wembanyama, who credited Vassell’s 12-of-19 shooting with keeping the Lakers at bay.
“Everything went in,” he added of his teammate’s big night. “I think if he didn’t make those shots they would have had more runs, but by himself he kept the lead for us.”
James, the four-time NBA champion who will turn 39 on Dec 30, scored 23 points with seven rebounds and 14 assists.
But without Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell and Cam Reddish, the Lakers trailed from start to finish.
James impressed with an early steal and dunk, but the Spurs led by as many as 25 in the first half.
Los Angeles cut the deficit to four points shortly before half-time but San Antonio kept the pressure on after the break, outscoring the Lakers 29-25 in the third period to take a 98-87 lead into the final quarter.
The Lakers pulled their starters midway through the fourth and the young Spurs team were able to celebrate their first victory since a Nov 2 triumph over Phoenix.
James said the multiple injury absences were just too much for the Lakers to overcome.
“You give credit where it’s due,” he added. “San Antonio played great tonight, they shot the ball extremely well. They attacked us and we’re just limited with bodies.”
Elsewhere, there was no respite for the Detroit Pistons, who suffered a franchise-record 22nd straight defeat with a 124-92 loss to the 76ers in Philadelphia.
Joel Embiid scored 35 points and pulled down 13 rebounds for his ninth straight double-double.
The Pistons’ skid is the sixth-longest in a single season in NBA history. Cleveland in 2010-11 and Philadelphia in 2013-14 share the record for the longest at 26 straight defeats.
In other news, two-time NBA All-Star guard Ja Morant says he endured “horrible days” during a 25-game ban and prepares to return to the Memphis Grizzlies with a new outlook on life.
He was suspended since the start of the term after two social media videos showing him displaying a gun went public.
“Definitely tough. Horrible days,” Morant said of his ban.
“But the support I had throughout this process, it definitely helped me a lot.”
The 24-year-old will be eligible to return next week when the Grizzlies play at New Orleans. “I’m just trying to come back and do whatever I can to help the team win,” he added. AFP
