Vassell, Wembanyama help Spurs snap 18-game skid, topple James, Lakers 129-115
SAN ANTONIO (AP) 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.
“Feels like a playoff game for me,” Wembanyama said. “We love this feeling."
LeBron James had 23 points and 10 rebounds in his return after missing Wednesday’s Lakers game with a bruised left calf.
Anthony Davis sat out with a hip injury after scoring 37 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in the Lakers’ 122-119 victory over the Spurs on Wednesday. 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."
Keldon Johnson had 17 points and Zach Collins added 16 points for the Spurs, who are 4-20.
“This is what I’m addicted to, this is what I love,” Wembanyama said.
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.
“It didn’t feel like a normal win,” Vassell said. “You seen people jumping around on the side. I’m trying to stay composed. It’s special. This is a special group, and at the end of the day, I don’t think we would have sat here and been like, ‘We’re going to lose 17, 18 in a row at the start of the season.’”
That skid almost continued despite the Lakers playing their third game in four nights.
The Lakers tried to counter Davis’ absence with a balanced scoring effort. Austin Reaves had 22 points and Rui Hachimura added 20.
San Antonio raced to a double-digit lead four minutes into the game and had a 49-24 lead on Doug McDermott’s 3-pointer three minutes into the second quarter.
That 25-point lead quickly faded as the Lakers went on a 38-17 run early in the second quarter. Christian Wood pushed Wembanyama aside for a layup that cut the Spurs’ lead to 66-62 with 19 seconds left in the first half.
Wood’s dunk capped an 8-0 run 88-80 with four minutes left in the third quarter.
“Tonight, we made shots, but overall, I think the defense was pretty good,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. “It’s been pretty good and improved significantly, but offensively we still have a ways to go. But I thought that they competed well. It’s tough to go up 20 against a team that’s run by LeBron on that court since he knows how to manipulate everything and do what has to be done to win a game."
Wembanyama added five assists and two blocks, but failed to get his hands on a 3-pointer by James in a rare one-on-one matchup between the No. 1 picks in 2003 and 2023.
“Just tried to get his hands to go down just a little bit because I know his wingspan,” James said of the shot. “I know he’s able to block shots outside his comfort zone. I just tried to create a little bit more room, shoot a little bit higher and I was able to knock it down.”
UP NEXT
Lakers: Host New York on Monday.
Spurs: Host New Orleans on Sunday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Jaxson Hayes vs. Victor Wembanyama (Keldon Johnson gains possession) | |||
11:42 | +2 | Malaki Branham makes two point pullup jump shot (Keldon Johnson assists) | 0-2 | |
11:24 | Austin Reaves turnover (bad pass) (Jeremy Sochan steals) | |||
11:21 | +2 | Jeremy Sochan makes two point running dunk (Keldon Johnson assists) | 0-4 | |
11:07 | +2 | Austin Reaves makes two point pullup jump shot | 2-4 | |
11:00 | Jeremy Sochan offensive foul (Austin Reaves draws the foul) | |||
11:00 | Jeremy Sochan turnover (offensive foul) | |||
10:51 | Taurean Prince misses three point jump shot | |||
10:47 | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | |||
10:30 | Jeremy Sochan misses three point jump shot | |||
10:27 | Taurean Prince defensive rebound | |||
10:21 | LeBron James misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
10:19 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
10:12 | Victor Wembanyama turnover (lost ball) (LeBron James steals) | |||
10:07 | +2 | LeBron James makes two point running dunk (Taurean Prince assists) | 4-4 | |
9:53 | Lakers technical foul (Defensive three second) | |||
9:53 | Victor Wembanyama misses technical free throw 1 of 1 | |||
9:53 | Spurs offensive rebound | |||
9:47 | +3 | Devin Vassell makes three point pullup jump shot (Malaki Branham assists) | 4-7 | |
9:34 | LeBron James turnover (bad pass) (Devin Vassell steals) | |||
9:29 | +3 | Keldon Johnson makes three point running jump shot (Devin Vassell assists) | 4-10 | |
9:14 | Austin Reaves misses two point floating jump shot | |||
9:12 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
9:08 | +3 | Keldon Johnson makes three point running jump shot (Malaki Branham assists) | 4-13 | |
8:47 | Austin Reaves misses three point jump shot | |||
8:40 | Jaxson Hayes offensive rebound | |||
8:40 | Victor Wembanyama blocks Jaxson Hayes's two point putback dunk | |||
8:37 | Devin Vassell defensive rebound | |||
8:36 | Keldon Johnson misses three point running jump shot | |||
8:33 | Austin Reaves defensive rebound | |||
8:19 | Taurean Prince misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
8:17 | Spurs defensive rebound | |||
7:59 | +2 | Jeremy Sochan makes two point reverse layup (Keldon Johnson assists) | 4-15 | |
7:59 | Jaxson Hayes shooting foul (Jeremy Sochan draws the foul) | |||
7:59 | +1 | Jeremy Sochan makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 4-16 | |
7:48 | +2 | Austin Reaves makes two point driving layup | 6-16 | |
7:39 | Jaxson Hayes personal foul (Victor Wembanyama draws the foul) | |||
7:39 | Lakers delay of game violation | |||
7:29 | Devin Vassell misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
7:25 | Jarred Vanderbilt defensive rebound | |||
7:21 | Jeremy Sochan shooting foul (LeBron James draws the foul) | |||
7:21 | +1 | LeBron James makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 7-16 | |
7:21 | +1 | LeBron James makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 8-16 | |
7:00 | +2 | Devin Vassell makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot (Cedi Osman assists) | 8-18 | |
6:51 | Austin Reaves turnover (bad pass) (Victor Wembanyama steals) | |||
6:46 | +3 | Devin Vassell makes three point running jump shot (Victor Wembanyama assists) | 8-21 | |
6:45 | Lakers 60 second timeout | |||
6:29 | Victor Wembanyama blocks Max Christie's two point driving dunk | |||
6:25 | Devin Vassell defensive rebound | |||
6:23 | Victor Wembanyama misses three point running jump shot | |||
6:23 | Jarred Vanderbilt defensive rebound | |||
6:13 | Max Christie misses two point floating jump shot | |||
6:06 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
5:57 | Keldon Johnson misses three point jump shot | |||
5:52 | Victor Wembanyama offensive rebound | |||
5:52 | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point putback layup | 8-23 | |
5:44 | +2 | LeBron James makes two point driving layup | 10-23 | |
5:36 | Keldon Johnson turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
5:20 | Rui Hachimura misses three point jump shot | |||
5:17 | Malaki Branham defensive rebound | |||
5:11 | Victor Wembanyama misses two point running layup | |||
5:09 | Jarred Vanderbilt defensive rebound | |||
5:04 | Jarred Vanderbilt misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
5:04 | LeBron James offensive rebound | |||
4:58 | Malaki Branham blocks LeBron James's two point putback layup | |||
4:57 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
4:53 | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point cutting dunk (Malaki Branham assists) | 10-25 | |
4:29 | Devin Vassell blocks Max Christie's two point driving floating bank jump shot | |||
4:26 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
4:21 | +2 | Devin Vassell makes two point driving finger roll layup (Victor Wembanyama assists) | 10-27 | |
4:21 | Jarred Vanderbilt shooting foul (Devin Vassell draws the foul) | |||
4:21 | +1 | Devin Vassell makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 10-28 | |
4:01 | Malaki Branham shooting foul (Austin Reaves draws the foul) | |||
4:01 | +1 | Austin Reaves makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 11-28 | |
4:01 | +1 | Austin Reaves makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 12-28 | |
3:43 | Zach Collins misses two point hook shot | |||
3:41 | Zach Collins offensive rebound | |||
3:38 | +3 | Cedi Osman makes three point stepback jump shot (Zach Collins assists) | 12-31 | |
3:24 | +3 | Christian Wood makes three point jump shot (Rui Hachimura assists) | 15-31 | |
3:23 | Spurs 60 second timeout | |||
3:01 | +2 | Malaki Branham makes two point pullup jump shot | 15-33 | |
2:35 | +2 | Austin Reaves makes two point pullup jump shot | 17-33 | |
2:22 | +2 | Zach Collins makes two point cutting finger roll layup (Devonte' Graham assists) | 17-35 | |
1:59 | Austin Reaves misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
1:55 | Malaki Branham defensive rebound | |||
1:50 | Malaki Branham misses two point floating jump shot | |||
1:45 | Zach Collins offensive rebound | |||
1:45 | +2 | Zach Collins makes two point tip layup | 17-37 | |
1:29 | +2 | Rui Hachimura makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 19-37 | |
1:18 | Devonte' Graham misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | |||
1:14 | Rui Hachimura defensive rebound | |||
1:12 | Austin Reaves misses three point running jump shot | |||
1:08 | Austin Reaves offensive rebound | |||
0:59 | +3 | Austin Reaves makes three point stepback jump shot (Rui Hachimura assists) | 22-37 | |
0:48 | Jarred Vanderbilt shooting foul (Zach Collins draws the foul) | |||
0:48 | +1 | Zach Collins makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-38 | |
0:48 | +1 | Zach Collins makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-39 | |
0:37 | Julian Champagnie shooting foul (Christian Wood draws the foul) | |||
0:37 | Christian Wood misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
0:37 | Lakers offensive rebound | |||
0:37 | Christian Wood misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
0:35 | Zach Collins defensive rebound | |||
0:18 | +3 | Cedi Osman makes three point jump shot (Devonte' Graham assists) | 22-42 | |
0:04 | Christian Wood misses three point jump shot | |||
0:00 | Christian Wood offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | Christian Wood misses two point jump shot | |||
0:00 | Lakers offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:38 | LeBron James misses three point jump shot | |||
11:34 | Cedi Osman defensive rebound | |||
11:26 | Devin Vassell misses two point driving layup | |||
11:26 | Spurs offensive rebound | |||
11:15 | Devin Vassell misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
11:12 | LeBron James defensive rebound | |||
11:05 | Jeremy Sochan blocks Rui Hachimura's two point layup | |||
11:04 | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | |||
11:04 | Rui Hachimura personal foul (Cedi Osman draws the foul) | |||
10:46 | +2 | Cedi Osman makes two point driving finger roll layup (Devin Vassell assists) | 22-44 | |
10:32 | LeBron James misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
10:29 | Devonte' Graham defensive rebound | |||
10:24 | Zach Collins misses three point running jump shot | |||
10:24 | Christian Wood defensive rebound | |||
10:13 | Zach Collins shooting foul (LeBron James draws the foul) | |||
10:13 | +1 | LeBron James makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-44 | |
10:13 | +1 | LeBron James makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 24-44 | |
9:58 | Victor Wembanyama misses two point jump shot | |||
9:55 | Austin Reaves defensive rebound | |||
9:48 | Rui Hachimura misses three point jump shot | |||
9:45 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
9:36 | Victor Wembanyama misses two point running layup | |||
9:35 | Victor Wembanyama offensive rebound | |||
9:35 | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point tip layup | 24-46 | |
9:25 | Austin Reaves misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
9:22 | Jaxson Hayes offensive rebound | |||
9:21 | Austin Reaves misses three point jump shot | |||
9:21 | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | |||
9:04 | +3 | Doug McDermott makes three point jump shot (Cedi Osman assists) | 24-49 | |
8:54 | Jeremy Sochan personal foul (Jaxson Hayes draws the foul) | |||
8:40 | +2 | Rui Hachimura makes two point cutting layup (LeBron James assists) | 26-49 | |
8:28 | Devin Vassell misses three point jump shot | |||
8:24 | LeBron James defensive rebound | |||
8:19 | Rui Hachimura misses three point jump shot | |||
8:14 | Austin Reaves offensive rebound | |||
8:11 | +2 | Taurean Prince makes two point reverse layup (Austin Reaves assists) | 28-49 | |
8:11 | Spurs 60 second timeout | |||
7:55 | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Devonte' Graham assists) | 28-51 | |
7:42 | +2 | Rui Hachimura makes two point driving dunk (LeBron James assists) | 30-51 | |
7:29 | Victor Wembanyama misses two point layup | |||
7:29 |