Victor Wembanyama goes off for 25 points in first-quarter vs. Lakers
Victor Wembanyama turned a Tuesday night matchup in Los Angeles into a historic exhibition of scoring dominance, leaving the Crypto.com Arena crowd in awe. The San Antonio Spurs superstar erupted for 25 points in the first quarter, setting the tone for a runaway 136-108 victory over the Lakers.
From the opening tip, the 7-foot-4 phenom was simply unguardable. Wembanyama connected on 8-of-9 shots in the opening frame, displaying a terrifying mix of perimeter finesse and interior power. He drained step-back threes, converted lobs, and spun through double teams with ease. At one stretch, he rattled off 17 consecutive points, single-handedly outscoring the Lakers' roster for much of the period. His 25-point explosion set a new franchise record for the most points in a quarter during the play-by-play era, eclipsing marks previously chased by legends like Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili.
"What got me going, honestly, was proving a point," Wembanyama told reporters postgame. "History has shown that I need to be worried about us against teams like this."
The Lakers, severely depleted without LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and Austin Reaves, offered little resistance. Wembanyama capitalized on the mismatch, carrying his momentum into the break with 37 first-half points—the highest first-half total recorded in the NBA this season. With the Spurs holding a massive lead, head coach Mitch Johnson rested his star for the entire fourth quarter. Wembanyama finished with a staggering stat line of 40 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks in just 26 minutes.
Historically, this level of efficiency is nearly unprecedented. Wembanyama joined Patrick Ewing as one of the few players in league history to record a 40-point double-double in fewer than 27 minutes. While the competition was shorthanded, the execution was flawless. As San Antonio looks to climb the Western Conference standings before the All-Star break, this performance serves as a stark warning to the league: when Wembanyama finds his rhythm this early, the game is effectively over after twelve minutes.
From the opening tip, the 7-foot-4 phenom was simply unguardable. Wembanyama connected on 8-of-9 shots in the opening frame, displaying a terrifying mix of perimeter finesse and interior power. He drained step-back threes, converted lobs, and spun through double teams with ease. At one stretch, he rattled off 17 consecutive points, single-handedly outscoring the Lakers' roster for much of the period. His 25-point explosion set a new franchise record for the most points in a quarter during the play-by-play era, eclipsing marks previously chased by legends like Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili.
"What got me going, honestly, was proving a point," Wembanyama told reporters postgame. "History has shown that I need to be worried about us against teams like this."
The Lakers, severely depleted without LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and Austin Reaves, offered little resistance. Wembanyama capitalized on the mismatch, carrying his momentum into the break with 37 first-half points—the highest first-half total recorded in the NBA this season. With the Spurs holding a massive lead, head coach Mitch Johnson rested his star for the entire fourth quarter. Wembanyama finished with a staggering stat line of 40 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks in just 26 minutes.
Historically, this level of efficiency is nearly unprecedented. Wembanyama joined Patrick Ewing as one of the few players in league history to record a 40-point double-double in fewer than 27 minutes. While the competition was shorthanded, the execution was flawless. As San Antonio looks to climb the Western Conference standings before the All-Star break, this performance serves as a stark warning to the league: when Wembanyama finds his rhythm this early, the game is effectively over after twelve minutes.
