Victor Wembanyama soars with 38 points to lead San Antonio to victory over Phoenix

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Victor Wembanyama goes for a dunk on November 2, 2023, on the Phoenix floor. CHRISTIAN PETERSEN / AFP

All the hot balls at the end of the match passed through his hands. Frenchman Victor Wembanyama delivered a top-flight performance on Thursday, November 2, scoring 38 points and allowing the San Antonio Spurs to maintain, in the final moments, a hard-won advantage but threatened by the Phoenix Suns.

Already winners two days earlier on the floor of the Arizona franchise, the Texans won 132-121 to switch to a positive balance with three victories and two defeats.

The French prodigy, “drafted” in first position by the Spurs in June, therefore achieved his first coup during his fifth NBA game, against one of his idols, Kevin Durant. And that’s what the Spurs needed to contain the comeback of the Suns who erased a 27-point deficit by equalizing at 116-116 with less than five minutes remaining in the match.

Read also: Victor Wembanyama wins his first game with the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA

Composure during money time

The Texans then responded by scoring the next 12 points, including 10 by their French number one, who, in total, made 15 of his 26 shots − including 3 of 6 at 3 points −, took 10 rebounds − including 8 defensive − and offered an assist.

“He’s a multifaceted player,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “He has confidence in himself. He did incredible things,” he appreciated.

The Frenchman’s composure at the end of the match was impressive. The 19-year-old scored a 3-point shot, three free throws, a dunk and a mid-range basket in money time. He finished as the match’s top scorer, having previously scored between 11 and 21 points per game.

“Someone has to do itdeclared the one who donned the hero’s costume. Tomorrow it might be one of my teammates »

Last in the Western Conference last season (22 wins, 60 losses), San Antonio had an unexpected start to the season, with the youngest squad in the NBA. The Spurs will return to their home arena on Sunday for the reception of the Toronto Raptors.

Read also: Article reserved for our subscribers Victor Wembanyama, between frustration and promises, a mixed first for the French phenomenon in the NBA

The World with AFP