Tonight will mark just the fifth meeting all-time between Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić and San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama. 

According to StatMuse, across those four games, Wembanyama has averaged 17.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game, while Dončić has averaged a triple-double with 26.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 10.5 assists per game. 

Hence why when Wembanyama met with the media yesterday, he spoke to the difficult task of guarding Dončić ahead of the two Western Conference juggernauts.

“[Dončić] is one of the hardest players to scout because he understands and masters the game more than almost anybody else,” Wembanyama said. “So, it’s always a great challenge. I don’t think I’ve ever won against him.”

Wembanyama is correct. He has never defeated Dončić, thus the fifth iteration of this head-to-head matchup will prove all the more hotly contested as the Spurs’ star aims to finally add a victory against the Lakers’ new face of their franchise. 

Both Los Angeles (6-2) and San Antonio (5-1) are off to stellar starts in just week three of the young NBA season. And a lot of that has to do with the efforts of Dončić and Wembanyama, who are paving the way for their respective teams in scoring. 

Under 10 games into the 2025-26 campaign, Dončić is averaging 41.3 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, and Wembanyama is averaging 26.7 points and 13.7 rebounds per game. 

Where Dončić has not had the upper hand over Wembanyama this season, however, has been availability. 

Dončić has only played in four games so far. And while his being out has added wrinkles in several of the Lakers’ game plans, what it has done is given heed to other Los Angeles players stepping up in his absence. 

Austin Reaves, when playing, has essentially run the show when Dončić has not been out on the floor. Reaves has averaged a near double-double in seven games this season, tallying 31.1 points and 9.3 assists per contest. 

Rui Hachimura and DeAndre Ayton are two other starters who have stepped up when needed, with the tandem accounting for 57 of Los Angeles’ 123 points two nights ago. 

Then there’s been the play of some of the Lakers’ role players. 

Jake LaRavia is averaging 12.6 points per game, Marcus Smart is chipping in 9.2 points per game, and Nick Smith Jr. just had 25 points to help guide a short-handed Lakers team over the Portland Trail Blazers on Nov. 3.  

Tonight, though, the Lakers will be able to lean on their star once again, as Dončić will look to pick up win number five against San Antonio’s 7-foot-4 All-Star.