SAN ANTONIO — The Spurs went on a furious fourth-quarter comeback and nearly erased a 20-point deficit, but it wasn't enough as they fell to the Lakers 122-119 in their 18th consecutive loss.
Rookie Victor Wembanyama played another spectacular game with 30 points, 13 rebounds and 6 blocks, but San Antonio's historic losing streak continues as they fall to 3-20 on the season.
Los Angeles played the night before, and LeBron James and Anthony Davis both were listed as game-time decisions heading into San Antonio. LeBron warmed up and even tried some left-handed threes, but he rested up for this game. Davis got the start, matching up with Wembanyama at center.
The 7'4" rookie played mostly power forward to begin the season, but has started at the five in his last three games. He's making more of an impact in the paint as a rebounder and shot blocker, but Coach Gregg Popovich was quick to remind us that his star 19-year-old isn't a traditional center.
"I don’t categorize him as a five. He’s guarding a five, but he took six threes the last game. He gets it on the wing, on top, on the block, in the paint. He is everywhere offensively. If you want to call him a five, that’s just who he guards."
Wemby proved his coach's point early in this one, showing off some guard skills in the first few possessions. He threw a slick look-away pass to Jeremy Sochan for a dunk. The next trip down he grabbed the board, dribbled coast to coast, and suddenly pulled up for a three that hit nothing but nylon.
Davis and Wemby did battle early, trading buckets and fouls. The Lakers built a 17-11 lead, then Pop substituted his entire bench unit in at the same time. Doug McDermott hit a few triples, as did Zach Collins, but the Lakers went on a 35-20 run as they built their lead up to 18.
AD powered through Wemby in the post for a huge dunk, but then the rookie got some payback by blocking a stepback jumper.
Wemby drove on David, spun in the paint and dunked it on his head. On the other end he stuffed another shot, then soared for an alley-oop on the ensuing fast break. To close the half, Wemby stuffed Davis for his fourth block of the game.
The Lakers held a 63-50 heading into a third quarter that has been brutal for San Antonio all season.
To start the second Wemby put back his own miss, then caught a lob and popped it in. Keldon Johnson put together a nice little run when the Lakers seemed to be on the verge of running away with it, but that only stopped the bleeding for so long. The Lakers led 92-74 heading to the fourth.
Wemby opened the fourth with a putback slam that energized the crowd a bit. He tallied another block that led to a three by Osman. Vassell ripped a steal and scored in transition, and Keldon finished a layup and a corner three to make it an 11-point game.
Out of a timeout the Lakers generated an easy open three and Pop was none too pleased. Vassell hit a layup, then a deep three to beat the shot clock buzzer, then he found Keldon in the corner to make it a 10-point game as the crowd got into it. Branham drove for a floater to make it 8.
Pop called time down 12 with 4:35 to play. Wemby came back in, and on the first play the lob to him missed but the second time it worked for an and-1. The rookie fouled AD, then drew a foul on the other end.
Keldon put back a miss, then Wemby drilled a three to make it a five-point game. Branham made an awful turnover, but Wemby got a stepback three. Branham made up for his blunder with a steal and score to make it a two-point game.
Wembanyama got to the line with 22 seconds left, but missed the first. Davis hit a pair of free throws to make it a three-point game with 17 to play. Wembanyama put up a sidestep three, but got called for an offensive foul for kicking out. Pop challenged the call.