Victor Wembanyama Erupts for 40 Points in 26 Minutes as Spurs Demolish Short-Handed Lakers

Victor Wembanyama delivered one of the most dominant individual performances of the 2025-26 NBA season on Monday night, scoring 40 points in just 26 minutes to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a commanding 136-108 victory over a severely short-handed Los Angeles Lakers squad. The French phenom was proving a point after a subpar recent stretch, and he made his statement emphatically clear from the opening tip.

Wembanyama's scoring explosion began immediately, as he poured in 25 points on 8-of-9 shooting before checking out for the first time with 4:01 remaining in the first quarter. By halftime, he had already accumulated 37 points, leaving the Lakers defense utterly helpless. He finished the night 13-of-20 from the field, 4-of-6 from three-point range, and 10-of-12 from the free-throw line, tying his season high in scoring despite playing fewer than 30 minutes. After such a dominant performance, Wembanyama told reporters he wanted to keep playing despite the lopsided score.

The Lakers entered the contest severely depleted, missing four regular starters in what became a perfect storm for San Antonio. Center Deandre Ayton was ruled out just before tip-off due to knee soreness, joining stars Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves on the sidelines. The undermanned Lakers roster had no answer for Wembanyama's combination of size, skill, and shooting touch, and the game quickly turned into a showcase for the Spurs' franchise centerpiece.

The victory was particularly satisfying for San Antonio, who have been building around Wembanyama as their cornerstone player. His ability to dominate in multiple facets—scoring from all three levels, protecting the rim, and facilitating offense—was on full display. The Spurs' coaching staff ultimately pulled Wembanyama for the entire fourth quarter with the game well in hand, allowing him to rest while the reserves finished out the blowout victory.

Wembanyama later acknowledged he was "proving a point" with his explosive performance, suggesting he had taken recent criticism or struggles personally. The 40-point barrage served as a reminder to the league that when healthy and motivated, the 20-year-old French star remains one of the most unstoppable forces in basketball. For the Lakers, the loss highlighted their vulnerability when key rotation players are unavailable, and questions will persist about their depth as the season progresses toward the playoffs.