LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers extended their win streak to five on Wednesday night, outlasting the San Antonio Spurs 118–116 at Crypto.com Arena to improve to 7–2 and climb to No. 2 in the Western Conference standings.
They did it again short-handed, without Austin Reaves for the second straight game with a groin injury and still without LeBron James.
The sold-out crowd got its first glimpse of what will become one of the NBA’s marquee matchups for years to come: Luka Dončić versus Victor Wembanyama. But the duel was shorter than most expected.
Wembanyama battled foul trouble throughout the night and eventually fouled out, a turning point that swung momentum toward L.A. The Lakers immediately attacked the paint in his absence with Dončić lob connections to Deandre Ayton, who had yet another double-double (22 points, 10 rebounds) and Jaxson Hayes—an area that had been nearly off-limits when he was on the floor.
Dončić wasn’t at his most efficient from the field, shooting nine-for-27, but he still found a way to score over 30 and even impact the game on defense with a season-high five steals. He finished with 35 points, 13 assists, and nine rebounds.
Through five games, Dončić continues to etch his name alongside Wilt Chamberlain in the record books—becoming the second player in NBA history to score at least 200 points through his first five games of a season. Over that stretch, he’s averaging 40.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 9.2 assists.
Wembanyama finished with 19 points, eight rebounds, and a block before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Afterward, Dončić praised the young star’s rapid rise.
“I have so much respect for him,” Dončić said. Playing against him is tough; guarding him on offense is very tough. I think he’s going to improve more. It’s always fun to play against guys you have so much respect for.”
The game nearly slipped away in the final seconds. With 1.2 seconds remaining and the Lakers up two, a pair of late miscues gave San Antonio a chance to steal it. First, Marcus Smart committed a mental mistake, passing the ball while still inbounds on an attempted inbound play. Then, after a missed tip-in on the ensuing possession, Jake LaRavia fouled Julian Champagnie on a putback attempt that could have tied the game.
Champagnie missed the first free throw, sealing the win for L.A. and sparing the Lakers from an overtime that would’ve added extra miles in their third game in four nights.
“As a 12-year vet, I can’t make that mistake,” Smart said afterward. “I take full ownership of it. It won’t happen again.”
The Lakers now head out for a five-game road trip, beginning Saturday in Atlanta before stops in Charlotte, Oklahoma City, New Orleans, and Milwaukee.
