Victor Wembanyama’s 37-point first half marked the highest-scoring first half by any Spur in the NBA’s play-by-play era. Adam Pantozzi / Getty Images
Feb. 10, 2026Updated 11:58 pm EST
LOS ANGELES — When the Lakers planned to show some Wilt Chamberlain highlights during the first quarter break Tuesday evening, they couldn’t have anticipated the irony. These segments are scheduled in advance, with some intention of genericism to make the videos relevant, regardless of what’s happening on the floor.
But just a few minutes earlier, Victor Wembanyama was having a Wilt Chamberlain moment.
The third-year center scored 25 points in just eight first-quarter minutes, a period-long masterpiece of Picasso-esque proportions. Wembanyama’s 25 points in the opening frame were the most by any Spurs player in a single period in the play-by-play era, per Stathead. He is also the first player in that era to score 25 points in under eight minutes.
25 PTS in 8 minutes 🤯@wemby is unreal. pic.twitter.com/mxo3H1E5tM
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) February 11, 2026
The Spurs All-Star starter finished the first half with 37 points, surpassing Tim Duncan for the most points in a half by a Spur in that span. It was also the most points in a first half in the NBA this season.
Before they knew it, the Spurs had their fourth 30-point lead of the season and went back to the locker room up 84-55. Wembanyama went to the locker room 13 points shy of his career high of 50. Meanwhile, Spurs rookie Carter Bryant had a new scoring career-high of 14 points, all in the first half. After falling out of the rotation briefly earlier this season, Braynt has hit his stride heading into his appearance in Saturday’s NBA dunk contest.
Feb 11, 2026
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