The San Antonio Spurs broke their franchise’s longest losing streak on Friday night with a convincing 129-115 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Ending an 18-game skid, the Spurs hadn’t secured a win since November 2 against the Phoenix Suns.
Devin Vassell led San Antonio with a career-high 36 points, while seven players finished in double figures, including Victor Wembanyama, who contributed 13 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and two steals. Wembanyama’s performance included his fifth game of the season with multiple blocks and steals, tying him with Anthony Davis for the most in the NBA. It also marked the fourth time a Spurs rookie achieved at least 10 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists in a game, a feat previously accomplished by David Robinson and Tim Duncan.
Despite the return of LeBron James for the Lakers, they were without key players such as Anthony Davis, Cam Reddish, and D’Angelo Russell. James posted a notable stat line with 23 points, 14 assists, and seven rebounds.
The Spurs built a substantial lead of up to 25 points in the first half, but the Lakers mounted a comeback, narrowing the deficit to just four in the final minute of the second quarter. However, Keldon Johnson’s and-one play on the Spurs’ last possession before halftime pushed the lead back to seven.
San Antonio further extended their lead in the third quarter, outscoring the Lakers 29-25, a rare accomplishment as it marked only the second time this season and the first since October 31 that the Spurs outscored their opponent in the third quarter.
The victory also ended a frustrating trend for the Spurs, as it was their first win since November 2 where they held a double-digit lead that resulted in a victory. Prior to this win, the Spurs had a 1-9 record this season in games where they led by at least 10 points, with eight consecutive defeats, tying a concerning mark in NBA history over the last 25 years.
This game marked the Lakers’ second this season with LeBron James on the floor while Anthony Davis sat out, reminiscent of a 34-point loss to the Houston Rockets on November 8.