Wembanyama Torches Lakers with Historic First Half, Spurs Cruise to Blowout Win
Victor Wembanyama didn’t just show up at Crypto.com Arena - he announced himself. With a 40-point outburst in just over 26 minutes of action, the Spurs’ rookie phenom delivered one of the most electric halves in franchise history, dropping 25 in the first quarter and finishing the opening 24 minutes with 37. By the time San Antonio wrapped up a 136-108 rout of the Lakers, Wembanyama had already etched his name into the record books - again.
The 7-foot-5 Frenchman came out firing, hitting from everywhere on the floor. Whether it was pull-ups, putbacks, or punishing dunks in transition, Wemby had the Lakers scrambling from the opening tip.
His 25-point first quarter wasn’t just a personal best - it was the highest-scoring quarter by any Spur since play-by-play data began being tracked in 1996. Only George Gervin (33) and David Robinson (28) have ever scored more in a single period in franchise history.
And yet, despite the historic start, Wembanyama only played eight minutes in the second half. His night ended with 40 points in 26:06 of game time - making him just the third player since 1976-77 to score 40+ in under 27 minutes, joining Patrick Ewing and Sleepy Floyd in that ultra-exclusive club.
Asked afterward if he wanted to stay in and chase something like 60 points, Wemby didn’t shy away.
“I know it,” he said, acknowledging the thought crossed his mind. “But I also know we’ve got to be fresh for tomorrow.
We got to make another statement tomorrow, so it’s a team game at the end of the day. What the real stat that matters is the W or the L.”
That mindset - hungry but team-first - is exactly what makes Wembanyama such a rare blend of talent and maturity. He admitted he was pushing to get back into the game, but ultimately agreed with the decision to rest him in the second half.
“You’ve got to have greed,” he said. “In every game, you have to have this greed to want more every time, because at all times, it doesn’t matter who’s on the court, there’s somebody who’s going to want to stop you from doing what you do out there. So, you’ve got to be greedy.”
But he also added, “I don’t mind both ways... They made the right choice by keeping me on the bench. We’ve got to think long term.”
Long term, the Spurs have a generational player on their hands - and nights like this only reinforce that. His 40-point performance was already the sixth of his young career, pushing him past Tim Duncan (five) and tying him with Manu Ginobili on the franchise’s all-time list. He’s also now logged more 30-point games (33) than Ginobili, a Hall-of-Famer and Spurs legend in his own right.
And this wasn’t just a one-off. Wembanyama’s explosion came right after Stephon Castle poured in 40 points in the Spurs’ previous outing, marking the first time since 1984 that Spurs teammates have posted back-to-back 40-point games.
The last time it happened? George Gervin followed by Mike Mitchell - not bad company to keep.
“It feels right,” Wemby said postgame, summing up a night that felt like a statement not just to the Lakers, but to the entire league.
And while his 37 first-half points tied the most scored in 18 or fewer minutes since Devin Booker did it in January 2024, Wembanyama’s performance was about more than just stats. It was about dominance.
It was about control. It was about a 20-year-old playing with the poise of a veteran, while still flashing the upside that makes him one of the most exciting prospects the NBA has seen in decades.
“What got me going is, honestly, proving myself on point, proving my team on point,” he said.
Mission accomplished.
Wembanyama didn’t need a full game to make history - just a half and a little extra. And while he could’ve chased more, he chose to prioritize the bigger picture. That’s the kind of “greed” that wins games now and championships later.