Victor Wimpanyama and LeBron James face off for first time as San Antonio Spurs end worst losing streak ever

CNN
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when LeBron James And Victor Wembanyama In front of the court on Friday, it was a monumental meeting between two generational talents – one at the end of his career and the other at the beginning – as San Antonio Spurs The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 129-115, breaking their record losing streak.

The two NBA stars finally went head-to-head near the end of the second quarter, with James pinned in the corner by the 8-foot Wembanyama wing. But facing the popular Frenchman was no big deal for the 38-year-old, who simply stepped back and nailed a 23-foot three-pointer from beyond the arc.

“I’m just trying to get his hands down a little bit because I know his wingspan,” James said afterwards. NBA. “I was trying to create a little more space and shoot a little higher.”

Although James won that brief game, it was Wimpanyama and Spurs who came out on top overall, sparking jubilation among the squad as they celebrated the end of an 18-game losing streak.

“It felt like a playoff game for me,” Wembanyama said afterward. espn. “But of course we have to feel good about it. We love that feeling. We want to repeat that, so yes, we will continue to work hard.”

The 19-year-old finished with his seventh straight double-double, tying Dwight Howard’s NBA record for the most consecutive double-doubles by a teenager, contributing 13 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks.

The Spurs started well, and led by 25 points in the second quarter, but they were unable to pull away at first, and the Lakers reduced their advantage to four points near the end of the first half.

With confidence low after the drought that extended to 2 November, it looked as if Spurs were throwing away another lead. However, they rallied in the fourth period to put the game out of reach for the Lakers.

Devin Vassell led the Spurs, scoring 36 points, while James contributed 23 points, 14 assists, and seven rebounds for the Lakers.

“It didn’t feel like a 100 percent normal win,” Vassell told reporters afterward. espn. “You see people jumping on the sidelines and everything…I try to stay calm. But at the end of the day, it’s special. This is a special group.”

The Spurs, who are now 4-20 on the season, will face the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday. The Lakers (15-11) face the New York Knicks on Monday.