Doncic's Lakers Hold Off Wembanyama's Spurs, Blazers Silence Thunder
The Los Angeles Lakers narrowly defeated the San Antonio Spurs 118-116 on Wednesday, with Luka Doncic outperforming Victor Wembanyama in a highly anticipated matchup. Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers mounted a comeback to hand the NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, their first loss of the season.
Doncic vs. Wembanyama Showdown
Slovenian star Luka Doncic led the Lakers with an impressive 35 points, nine rebounds, and 13 assists. He also contributed five steals and two blocks, guiding his team to a hard-fought victory at Crypto.com Arena. This win improved the Lakers' record to 7-2 as they await the return of injured superstar LeBron James.
"They only lost one (other) game, so to come back, being with (Austin Reaves) and LeBron out, it's unbelievable," Doncic said.
Victor Wembanyama scored 19 points with eight rebounds and three assists for the Spurs. Stephon Castle and Jeremy Sochan each added 16 points, while seven San Antonio players reached double figures in scoring. However, foul trouble hampered Wembanyama, who fouled out with 1:40 remaining as the Spurs trailed 113-112.
Game Highlights and Final Moments
- The Lakers held a 118-116 lead with just 1.2 seconds left.
- A misplayed inbounds pass gave the Spurs possession, but they failed to capitalize on the chance.
- The Lakers’ narrow victory came despite missing key players LeBron James and Austin Reaves.
Portland Trail Blazers' Victory
The Trail Blazers rallied to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder, handing the reigning NBA champions their first defeat of the season.
"Portland Trail Blazers rallied to hand NBA champions Oklahoma City their first defeat of the season."
This marked a significant upset early in the season, highlighting Portland’s resilience and offensive effort against a strong Thunder team.
Author's summary: Luka Doncic led the Lakers to a thrilling win over the Spurs, while the Trail Blazers handed the Thunder their first loss, showcasing intense rookie battles and team resilience.