Doncic's Lakers Edge Spurs, Blazers Defeat Thunder
Luka Doncic outplayed Victor Wembanyama as the Los Angeles Lakers narrowly defeated the San Antonio Spurs 118-116 on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers rallied to hand reigning NBA champions Oklahoma City their first loss of the season.
Doncic vs. Wembanyama Showdown
In the season's much-anticipated first matchup between the two stars, Slovenian guard Luka Doncic showcased an impressive performance with 35 points, 9 rebounds, and 13 assists. He also contributed five steals and two blocks, leading the Lakers to victory in a chaotic finish at Crypto.com Arena. This win improved Los Angeles's 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," said Doncic.
Spurs' Effort Led by Wembanyama
Victor Wembanyama was the top scorer for San Antonio with 19 points, eight rebounds, and three assists. Teammates Stephon Castle and Jeremy Sochan each added 16 points. Seven Spurs players reached double figures, reflecting a well-rounded team effort, but it fell short.
Wembanyama struggled with foul trouble throughout the game and fouled out with 1:40 left, while the Spurs trailed 113-112. The Lakers held onto a 118-116 lead with just 1.2 seconds remaining despite a mishandled inbounds play that gave the Spurs the ball, but San Antonio failed to capitalize.
Blazers Hand Thunder Their First Loss
The Portland Trail Blazers staged a comeback victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, handing the NBA champions their first defeat of the season.
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