Wembanyama, Spurs dominate injury-hit Lakers

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs ran roughshod over the injury-depleted Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, the French superstar matching his National Basketball Association (NBA) season high with 40 points in a 136-108 rout.

Wembanyama, whose California swing will include a second All-Star Game appearance on Sunday, added 12 rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot, connecting on 13 of 20 attempts from the field in his 26 minutes of work.

The Lakers were without a raft of starters, with LeBron James and Luka Doncic sidelined along with Austin Reaves and Marcus Smart.

Doncic missed a third straight game with a hamstring strain. James sat out the second night of a back-to-back to manage foot arthritis.

Wembanyama took full advantage, setting the tone with 25 points in just eight minutes on the floor in the first quarter.

He had 37 by halftime — the most by any player in a first half this season — when the Spurs led 84-55.

He cooled off in the third quarter, but matched the 40 points he put up on opening night before sitting out the fourth period with the rest of the Spurs starters.

The only down note for the Spurs was an injury to 2025 Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, who took a hard fall under the basket in the second quarter and exited with a pelvic contusion.