Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama outduels Thunder’s Chet Holmgren, seals win in clutch

SAN ANTONIO — In entrance of their dwelling followers for the primary time in 26 days, the San Antonio Spurs and rookie Victor Wembanyama placed on fairly the present.

After giving up a 12-point third-quarter lead and falling behind within the fourth, the Spurs stormed again for a 132-118 win over the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. Wembanyama put his stamp on the victory with a 3-pointer with 2:10 left to place San Antonio up 9 after which a block on the Thunder’s Chet Holmgren 20 seconds later.

Wembanyama completed with 28 factors, 13 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 blocks and was 5-of-7 from 3-point vary. He grew to become the primary participant in NBA historical past to have no less than 25 factors, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 blocks and 5 3-pointers in a recreation.

Down the stretch, the Spurs have been continually placing the ball within the 7-foot-4 rookie’s arms, and he made the performs to assist them get the victory.

“I’d say it is a requisite for any participant who needs to be nice,” Wembanyama mentioned about wanting the ball down the stretch. “I imply most gamers within the league, they have been by a whole lot of challenges, and I imply I have been by a whole lot of challenges in my life, in my basketball life, so it is one thing it’s important to dwell with. It’s what it’s. So that you need to be nice or you do not.”

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich mentioned Wembanyama is not afraid to place himself in place to resolve the sport when the time requires it.

“He’ll take pictures. He is not frightened about if he misses it, what the implications are, something like that,” Popovich mentioned. “And he likes these moments.”

Wembanyama grew to become the third participant to common 20 factors, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 blocks over a seven-game span since 1973-74, becoming a member of David Robinson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

It was additionally the third time this month that Wembanyama had 25 factors, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 blocks in a recreation. The one different two gamers to try this in a month since blocks grew to become official have been Abdul-Jabbar and Hakeem Olajuwon.

“That child is particular,” Spurs guard Devin Vassell mentioned.

For the second consecutive recreation, Wembanyama performed all the fourth quarter. It was simply the second time he’d accomplished that each one season, and even he wasn’t positive about it after the sport.

“However on the finish of the sport, I feel I performed possibly the final 5, six minutes of the sport and I hesitated to request a sub, however I advised myself to only lock in and recover from it as a result of ultimately I’ll need to play these minutes,” Wembanyama mentioned at first.

When it was identified he performed all the fourth quarter, Wembanyama known as it “a much bigger enchancment” than he thought.

“I feel a month in the past taking part in the entire fourth quarter would not have been doable whereas staying aggressive for me,” Wembanyama mentioned. “So it is a good enchancment. We’re undoubtedly occurring the correct path now as a staff.”

Thursday’s recreation was the Spurs’ first at dwelling since Feb. 3 due to their long-standing rodeo highway journey. The Spurs spent the 9 earlier video games on the highway, going 1-8, with the All-Star break in between.

“I feel tonight was simply taking part in with vitality,” Spurs guard Tre Jones mentioned. “Clearly all of us heard the followers on the market. It was good to be again dwelling after that monthlong highway journey.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 31 factors for Oklahoma Metropolis, his seventh consecutive 30-point recreation and his forty fourth 30-point recreation of the season, simply three again of tying Kevin Durant for essentially the most such video games in a season in franchise historical past.

Holmgren, who had 23 factors, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, is the closest competitor to Wembanyama for the Rookie of the Yr award.

Vassell was requested if he thought Wembanyama had the award locked up due to his efficiency Thursday.

“I really feel prefer it’s been over, however I imply night time in, night time out, the stuff that he does, the influence that he has on each ends of the ground, large shot after large block, after regardless of the case could also be, I imply he does not even seem like a rookie,” Vassell mentioned. “I imply the pictures that he shoots, the boldness that he has in his recreation is second to none, in truth.”

Wembanyama mentioned that successful the Rookie of the Yr award is “essential” to him this season, however he declined to say whether or not he thought the race was over.

“No, as a result of there’s nonetheless 22 video games left,” Wembanyama mentioned. “So no, it is not over.”