Sawt Falasteen - Wembanyama's Spurs fall to Pacers in Paris

In the Bercy Arena where he won the Olympic gold medal with the USA last year, Haliburton poured in 16 points in the third quarter on the way to a 28-point haul to carry the Pacers to victory.

Watched by singer and fashion icon Pharrell Williams, Frenchman Wembanyama had 20 points and Harrison Barnes top-scored for the Spurs with 25 points.

Indiana turned up the intensity after slumping to a 140-110 reverse in the first game against the Spurs in the French capital Thursday.

Pascal Siakam contributed 23 points for the Pacers who improve to 25-20 while the Spurs remain at 20-22 after their fourth defeat in five games and are left looking for consistency as the season heats up.

Despite the defeat Saturday, Wembanyama's return to Paris has confirmed his growing status as one of the NBA's biggest names at just 21 years of age.

He attended the Paris Saint-Germain Champions League soccer game against Manchester City, sat front row at an LVMH fashion show, opened basketball courts for delighted schoolchildren and gave dozens of interviews.

R.Halabi--SF-PST