SAN ANTONIO — Spurs star Victor Wembanyama returned from a one-game absence Saturday in opposition to the Charlotte Hornets and confirmed off his full arsenal of expertise in main San Antonio to a 115-102 victory to shut a six-game homestand at Frost Financial institution Middle.
Wembanyama poured in a game-high 32 factors with 12 rebounds, eight assists, 4 blocks and two steals. The efficiency marked Wembanyama’s second profession outing with a minimum of 30 factors, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, a number of blocks and a number of steals, tying him with George Gervin for the third most such video games in franchise historical past, based on ESPN Analysis. Wembanyama trails Tim Duncan (9) and David Robinson (19).
“It is only a development, generally,” Wembanyama stated. “There have been many points of the sport the place we dominated them, and that exhibits as a result of we gained three out of 4 quarters.”
San Antonio improved to a league-best 17-2 since Feb. 1, together with a 5-1 mark throughout its six-game homestand.
“It has been actually good for us to undergo these video games and discover out about different groups and discover out about ourselves,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson stated. “We have needed to be in lots of various kinds of video games, whether or not it is a bit bit open or having to cowl lots of distance defensively, matching some physicality, late-game execution, seeing totally different ways in which individuals guard us. All these experiences are, hopefully, classes we flip into data and knowledge transferring ahead.”
Wembanyama began the sport scorching, scoring 11 factors within the first quarter on 4-of-7 taking pictures, together with 2-of-3 from 3-point vary. He had a game-high 18 factors on the half.
He confirmed off his playmaking expertise within the third quarter, discovering middle Luke Kornet for 2 alley-oops. Within the fourth quarter, Wembanyama threw an alley-oop to Stephon Citadel, who caught it for a two-handed reverse dunk.
“It is yet another weapon,” Wembanyama stated of his playmaking. “My playmaking more often than not occurs by rolling and never even touching the ball, getting guys open by my positioning with my gravity. However I can do this, too.”
Wembanyama sat out Thursday’s loss to the Denver Nuggets due to a sore proper ankle after testing it throughout pregame warmups. However the group was optimistic he’d return for Saturday’s matchup in opposition to the Hornets.
Wembanyama can miss three extra regular-season video games earlier than he is ineligible for NBA awards.
“Victor has the longest issues he desires to try this are vital most likely within the historical past of basketball,” Johnson stated. “All of them are vital to me as properly. There’s lots that goes into that, and at instances, we’ve to make robust choices. As a result of on that lengthy listing, there are nonetheless issues that we prioritize and placed on the highest of the listing. However that man, I believe, goes to problem us so long as we’re all right here to proceed to match that want to maintain checking issues off that listing.”
Spurs rookie guard Dylan Harper missed Saturday’s contest due to a proper calf contusion. Johnson stated Harper is day-to-day, including there’s “no long-term concern” relating to the damage. Harper missed 10 video games in November due to a left calf pressure.
