After the success against Washington on Wednesday (50 points, his record)Victor Wembanyama kept up the pace with a full game against the Lakers (28 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks), attacking at full speed (9 points after 4 minutes). The Frenchman feasted on his team-mates’ lobs, but was only slightly less adept from distance (4 out of 13 at 30.8%), while holding his own defensively on certain occasions against the burly Anthony Davis and LeBron James. But at the end of a tight game, the Spurs finally capitulated (120-115 for Los Angeles), after a decisive lay-up by LeBron James with 25 seconds remaining.

The “King”, in his 22nd NBA season at the age of 39, recorded a 4th triple double (15 points, 16 rebounds, 12 assists), a first in his immense career. James played his 1,504th NBA regular-season game, equalling John Stockton. This season, he has the means to overtake Dirk Nowitzki (1,522), Vince Carter (1,541) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1,560), and close in on Robert Parish’s record (1,611). The Lakers were able to count on their pivot Anthony Davis (40 points, 12 rebounds), a major contributor to Los Angeles’ good start to the season (8 wins – 4 losses), who intends to defend the NBA Cup they won last year. With 11 assists for the Spurs, Chris Paul (39) surpassed the 12,000-assist mark, the third player to do so after John Stockton (15,806) and Jason Kidd (12,091).

Cleveland unstoppable

Thanks to their 144-126 victory over the Chicago Bulls, the Cleveland Cavaliers won their 14th game in as many matches since the start of the season. On Sunday against Charlotte, they will have the opportunity to equal the second-best start in league history, achieved by the Houston Rockets in 1993 and the Washington Capitals in 1948. The record belongs to the Golden State Warriors (24 wins in 2015). Trailing the Bulls (tied with 10:41 remaining), the Cavaliers stepped up a gear thanks to Donovan Mitchell, who scored 18 points in the 4th quarter alone, for a total of 37 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists, being well helped by Darius Garland (29 points).

OKC stays on top in the West

The Oklahoma City Thunder won the top-of-the-table Western Conference duel against the Phoenix Suns (99-83), with 28 points from Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, to stay at the top of their conference. The New York Knicks, despite holding an 18-point lead going into the 4th quarter, were nearly stunned late on by Cam Thomas’ Brooklyn Nets (43 points), who went ahead with 12 seconds remaining, before a long-range shot from Jalen Brunson (37 points) and a Miles Bridges layup gave the Knicks victory in the New York “derby”. Despite the presence of Paul George (13 points) and Joel Embiid (20 points), the Philadelphia 76ers suffered their 9th defeat (2 wins) against Orlando (98-86).