LOS ANGELES (AFP) — French sensation Victor Wembanyama came out on top in his first tussle with National Basketball Association superstar LeBron James Friday as the San Antonio Spurs snapped their 18-game losing streak with a 129-115 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Two days after falling to the Lakers in a game that James sat out, 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.
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.
James, the four-time NBA champion who will turn 39 this month, 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 and for once were able to make the lead stand up.
Los Angeles cut the deficit to four points shortly before halftime with a run that included James’s high-arching three-pointer over the towering Wembanyama.
But the Spurs 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 November 2 triumph over Phoenix.
“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,” Wembanyama said 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 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.”
James said his first clash with Wembanyama only reinforced his previous assessment that the highly touted rookie is a “special talent.”
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.
Philadelphia’s NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid scored 35 points and pulled down 13 rebounds for his ninth straight double-double.
Tyrese Maxey added 19 points for the Sixers, who won their fifth straight.
The Pistons had matched their longest-ever losing streak with a loss to Philadelphia on Wednesday.
