San Antonio Spurs 98-136 Indiana Pacers: Victor Wembanyama’s side lose in Paris

Frenchman Victor Wembanyama could not prevent the San Antonio Spurs from losing 136-98 to the Indiana Pacers in Paris.

Beaten 140-110 by the Spurs on Thursday in the first of two regular-season NBA games in the French capital, the Pacers ran out comfortable winners at Accor Arena.

Tyrese Haliburton scored 28 points and Pascal Siakam 23 for the Pacers.

Wembanyama, who played for Paris-based Metropolitans 92 before being selected by the Spurs as the number one pick in the NBA Draft in 2023, managed 20 points and 12 rebounds. Team-mate Harrison Barnes scored 25 points.

This is the fourth year that the NBA has staged regular-season matches in Paris.

“It’s been really fun to be here,” said Haliburton. “It’s helping grow the game.

“We just wanted to leave the city on a good note. It was a really good showing from us tonight and [we] just want to carry this momentum going forward.”

Wembanyama, who was part of the France side beaten by the USA in the Olympic final last summer, scored 30 points in Thursday’s win over the Pacers.

The Pacers are fifth in the Eastern Conference and the Spurs fourth bottom of the West.