The San Antonio Spurs looked to earn their fifth straight win Tuesday night in Los Angeles against the Lakers.
Luckily for them, Los Angeles proved to be an easy opponent, considering each of their top-four scorers were ruled out.
Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, LeBron James and Deandre Ayton did not play. Rui Hachimura and Luke Kennard entered the game as the only two Lakers' players to average 10 or more points per game on the season. Former Defensive Player of the Year, Marcus Smart was also ruled out.
San Antonio took advantage, with Victor Wembanyama doing the majority of the damage. Wembanyama scored 40 points on 4-for-6 shooting from three-point range to go along with 12 rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block. With the performance, Wembanyama passed franchise legend Tim Duncan in 40-point games and tied another legend, Manu Ginobili.
That said, what was most impressive about Wembanyama's performance was how quick he reached such high numbers. Having scored 40 points in 26 minutes of play, Wembanyama became the quickest player to score 40 in a game since Sleepy Floyd for the Houston Rockets in 1991.
Having outscored Los Angeles 47-30 in the first quarter, many Spurs' starters were able to rest, giving San Antonio the opportunity to empty the bench in the 28-point blowout.
Considering the Spurs play again Wednesday night, head coach Mitch Johnson was clever to empty the bench when the game got out of hand.
After Wednesday's game, the Spurs will have a week off over the All-Star break.
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