In the heart of San Antonio, when the Spurs' starting five took a seat for good with a mere 1:40 left on the clock last night, there was something different in the air. Victor Wembanyama and Devin Vassell strolled to the end of the bench, slapping hands with their teammates along the way. As the Spurs closed out a 129-115 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, the duo shared an extended embrace, capping off a historic moment that snapped an 18-game losing streak, setting a new franchise record.
Now, this wasn't just another W in the column for the Spurs. Vassell made it clear, "A hundred percent it didn't feel like a normal win." The jubilation was palpable, teammates leaping around on the sideline, and Vassell admitted, "I'm trying to stay composed. But at the end of the day, it's special. This is a special group."
Wembanyama echoed the sentiment, acknowledging, "It's been a minute" since the Spurs tasted victory. For him, it felt like a playoff game, and you could sense the hunger to replicate that feeling. "But of course, we have to feel good about it. We love that feeling. We want to repeat it, so yeah, we're going to keep working our ass off."
Sure, the Lakers were without Anthony Davis, Cam Reddish, and D'Angelo Russell, but LeBron James was back in the lineup, putting on a show with 23 points, 14 assists, and 7 rebounds. In a clash between the No. 1 picks from 2003 and 2023, Wembanyama faced off against the King, with LeBron sinking a high-arcing corner 3-pointer over the young Spurs talent.
Wembanyama acknowledged feeling the eyes of the arena on him, especially against a player like LeBron. "That was a high-arcing shot," he noted, giving props to the King's craftiness. LeBron, ever the strategist, revealed he aimed to get Wembanyama's hands to dip just a bit, exploiting his massive wingspan and shot-blocking prowess.
Vassell stole the spotlight, dropping a career-high 36 points, while Wembanyama filled the stat sheet with 13 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals. His all-around performance, with multiple blocks and steals, tied him with Anthony Davis for the most such games in the NBA this season.
This win meant more to the Spurs than just breaking a streak; it signaled a shift. San Antonio hadn't tasted victory since November 2, and despite a shaky history of losing leads, they pulled together to secure this one. The Spurs, now 2-9 in games where they led by double digits, showed resilience, bouncing back from a potential Lakers comeback.
In the aftermath of the win, the locker room was alive with the sound of victory. Celebratory screams echoed, and Keldon Johnson emphasized the camaraderie of the team. "We're a close group," he declared. "We stick together. We win 'em together, we lose 'em together. ... It's huge to be able to celebrate with my brothers."
Despite the elation, the Spurs remain grounded, knowing this is just one game in an 82-game season. Zach Collins emphasized the positive trend and the need to build on it, while Jeremy Sochan expressed hope in making winning a habit again.
For the Lakers, LeBron James acknowledged the upcoming challenges of a packed schedule, with three games in four nights on the horizon. It's a test of mental and physical preparation, and LeBron stressed the need for proper rest, nutrition, and hydration to weather the storm of the NBA grind.
So, as the Spurs revel in a hard-fought victory, the challenge now is to turn this moment into a catalyst for a turnaround. It's not just a win; it's a statement, a turning point for a team hungry for success.
