The NBA’s a lot of interesting nascent competition measured up to the buzz on Thursday as Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren placed on a program in San Antonio.
Wembanyama outdueled Holmgren as his Spurs scored a 132-118 upset of the Thunder. He filled package rating and put his flexible abilities on screen as he assisted ice the video game with a set of deep 3-pointers down the stretch.
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With San Antonio leading 119-13 with 3:30 staying, Wembanyama brought up from 28 feet to extend the Spurs’ result in 122-113.
2 belongings later on, Wembanyama dealt with up Holmgren from the top of the secret, then passed the ball to a cutting Devin Vassell. Holmgren followed Vassell, who dealt with a triple-team at the free-throw line. Vassell then kicked it back out to a broad open Wembanyama beyond the 3-point line.
Wembanyama brought up once again to sink his 2nd 3-pointer in less than 90 seconds, a container that extended San Antonio’s result in 127-118. The threes from the 7-foot-4 phenom stressed a late Spurs rise that assisted San Antonio turn a 105-103 deficit into a 14-point win over the second-place group in the Western Conference.
Wembanyama paced the Spurs with 28 points, 13 rebounds, 7 helps, 2 takes and 5 blocks. He shot 9 of 17 from the field consisting of an impressive 5-of-7 effort from 3-point range.
Holmgren countered with 23 points, 7 rebounds, 5 helps and one block. He could not match Wembanyama from cross country on a 1-of-4 night from beyond the arc. His one make from far away was an early tone-setter in shift over Wembanyama after he pressed the ball up court from the opposing standard.
Eventually, Wembanyama came out the clear victor of Thursday’s fight of the 7-foot Rookie of the Year hopefuls.
Wembanyama had lots of aid as the Spurs got their 12th win of the season to enhance to 12-48. Vassell matched him with 28 points along with 9 helps and 2 takes. Jeremy Sochan included 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Tre Jones tallied 17 points, 8 helps and 6 rebounds. All 4 struck 3 or more 3-pointers while shooting 50% or much better from far away. As a group, the Spurs shot 19 of 39 (48.7%) from 3-point range on a 52.7% shooting night in general.
Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 31 points together with 6 rebounds and 3 helps. Jalen Williams included 26 points, 6 rebounds and 3 helps. Oklahoma City could not keep up from long range on a 9-of-31 (29%) shooting night from beyond the 3-point line. The Thunder dropped to 41-18, a complete video game behind the first-place Minnesota Timberwolves in the West.
With the Spurs well out of playoff contention, there will be just one more possibility this season for Holmgren and Wembanyama to square off.