SAN ANTONIO — When the Spurs' starters checked out for good with 1:40 remaining Friday night, it was a different feeling. Victor Wembanyama and Devin Vassell walked to the end of the bench, high-fiving teammates on the way there.
Following the Spurs' 129-115 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, the two shared a long embrace as San Antonio ended a franchise-record 18-game losing streak.
It was the Spurs' fourth win of the season, but it wasn't just any win for them. «A hundred percent it didn't feel like a normal win,» Vassell said. «You see people jumping around on the sideline and everything.… I'm trying to stay composed.
But at the end of the day, it's special. This is a special group.» Wembanyama said «it's been a minute» since the Spurs had won a game, so it did feel a little better than usual. «Kind of felt like a playoff game to me,» Wembanyama said. «But of course we have to feel good about it.