Doncic's Lakers Hold Off Wembanyama's Spurs, Blazers Silence Thunder
Luka Doncic outshone Victor Wembanyama as the Los Angeles Lakers narrowly defeated the San Antonio Spurs 118–116 on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers staged an impressive rally to hand the NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder their first loss of the season.
Doncic Leads Lakers in Tight Battle
In their first meeting of the season, Slovenian star Luka Doncic turned in a stellar performance with 35 points, nine rebounds, and thirteen assists. He also recorded five steals and two blocked shots, leading the Lakers to another win at Crypto.com Arena. The team improved to 7–2 as they await the return of injured teammate LeBron James.
“They only lost one other game, so to come back, being with Austin Reaves and LeBron out, it's unbelievable,” Doncic said.
Wembanyama and Spurs Fall Short
Victor Wembanyama led San Antonio with 19 points, eight rebounds, and three assists. Stephon Castle and Jeremy Sochan contributed 16 points each. Seven Spurs players reached double figures, but their balanced effort wasn’t enough to overcome late foul trouble and a missed final opportunity.
Wembanyama fouled out with just 1:40 remaining as the Spurs trailed 113–112. The Lakers almost gave away their lead after a botched inbound play with 1.2 seconds left, yet San Antonio couldn’t convert on the final possession.
Trail Blazers Shock the Champions
Elsewhere, the Portland Trail Blazers mounted a strong comeback to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder, delivering the reigning champions their first defeat of the campaign.
Author’s summary: Luka Doncic starred in a critical Lakers win over the Spurs as Portland ended the Thunder’s unbeaten run, showcasing a dramatic night in the NBA.