Spurs-Suns: 5 lessons from Victor Wembanyama’s impressive performance
On a night when Victor Wembanyama shone as the court’s standout, age and lack of experience became irrelevant.
Victor Wembanyama Shines Bright as the Spurs Triumph Over Phoenix Suns
Indeed, we’ve seen flashes of exceptional talent from San Antonio Spurs’ rookie sensation, Victor Wembanyama. However, the 19-year-old unveiled a truly tantalizing performance on Thursday, showcasing his most comprehensive game to date while leading the charge in a convincing 132-121 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
With a career-high 38 points, Wembanyama now shares the third-highest single-game scoring record by a rookie in the storied history of the Spurs. Only the legendary Hall of Famer David Robinson managed to eclipse this feat with more points in a game during his first season.
Let’s delve into five key takeaways from this thrilling matchup:
Victor Wembanyama’s Dominance
Exiting the crowded postgame interview room and mindful of the doorframe overhead, Wembanyama made a pit stop at his locker, taking a refreshing swig from a clear plastic bottle—a well-deserved hydration break after extinguishing Phoenix’s attempt to stage a comeback from a daunting 27-point deficit.
With just 4 minutes and 21 seconds remaining on the clock, former Spur Keita Bates-Diop sank a 23-foot shot, leveling the score at 116. It was at this critical juncture that Wembanyama seized control, contributing 10 of San Antonio’s next 12 points and pushing the score to 128-116 with a remarkable 18-foot turnaround jumper, which occurred with only 1 minute and 35 seconds left on the game clock.
A mere twelve seconds later, fans at Footprint Center started making their way towards the exits, acknowledging the rookie’s decisive performance. When asked about his fourth-quarter heroics, Wembanyama humbly stated, “Somebody’s got to do it.”
In the final quarter, Wembanyama displayed his skill, shooting an impressive 3-for-4, grabbing three rebounds, and adding a crucial block to his stats. His knack for fourth-quarter scoring is evident, having now accumulated a total of 39 points in the final quarters of his first five games, ranking fifth in the NBA, with a 15-for-19 shooting record during those moments.
Furthermore, Wembanyama’s remarkable start to his NBA career is underlined by his achievement of becoming the eighth player in league history to amass 85 or more points, 35 or more rebounds, and 10 or more blocks in his first five games.
Wembanyama’s Explosive Beginning
In the second game of the Spurs-Suns series, Wembanyama notably broke the pattern of slow starts that had characterized his earlier performances. This series began with a thrilling 115-114 win for the Spurs on Tuesday, and the rookie wasted no time making his presence felt.
In the first half, Wembanyama impressively accumulated 20 points, leading all players in the game, while shooting 8-of-14 from the field. His contributions extended beyond scoring, as he also recorded five rebounds, two assists, a block, and a steal. Furthermore, basketball enthusiasts were treated to a couple of highlight-reel dunks. This performance was a significant departure from his previous four games, where he had averaged just 5.3 points on a 28% shooting rate during the first halves.
On the defensive end, Wembanyama achieved a rare feat by joining the exclusive company of three teenagers—Kevin Durant and LeBron James—since the tracking of blocked shots began in the 1973-74 season. These remarkable young talents are the only ones to post 35 or more points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks in a single game.
Demonstrating their confidence in Wembanyama, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich ensured that the rookie finished the game on a strong note. Popovich shared, “We had he and Zach [Collins] play together in the last three minutes or so. We just ran that same play over and over again. But at the same time, we got a few stops at the other end.”
Devin Booker’s Spectacular Return Tarnished
Devin Booker’s highly anticipated return to the court turned out to be a memorable one, albeit in a bittersweet manner for the Suns. He served as the catalyst behind the Suns’ remarkable comeback, erasing a formidable 27-point deficit. The 27-year-old guard had been sidelined due to a sprained left ankle suffered in the season opener but roared back with a team-leading 31 points.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich couldn’t resist a jest about Booker’s swift return after Phoenix’s loss to his team just two days earlier, saying, “See, they go and lose a game [and this happens]. He told me he wasn’t coming back for a week. What a joker.”
Teaming up with Kevin Durant, Booker and the Suns mounted a serious charge to whittle down the substantial lead held by the Spurs. However, after their impressive resurgence from the 27-point deficit, the Suns struggled, finishing the game with just one successful field goal out of seven attempts.
Booker played 35 minutes and managed to produce his 16th career game with at least 30 points and 10 assists, showcasing his exceptional skills. Durant, on the other hand, contributed 28 points, six rebounds, and two blocks during his 37 minutes on the court. Despite their individual performances, the game concluded with a loss for Durant, marking his fourth consecutive contest with at least 25 points.
The Formative Journey of the Young Spurs Continues
The San Antonio Spurs have encountered a range of experiences in the early stages of their season, each contributing to the growth and development of their young roster. Their season opener against the Dallas Mavericks saw them control the game for most of the way, only to falter due to late-game execution and the heroics of Luka Doncic down the stretch. They quickly rebounded with an overtime victory against the Houston Rockets in Game 2, but then faced a humbling blowout loss to the LA Clippers on the road.
Their two matchups against the Phoenix Suns in the same week showcased extremes on both ends of the spectrum. First, the Spurs engineered an impressive 20-point comeback victory, displaying remarkable clutch play in the late stages of the game. Just two days later, they found themselves in a vastly different scenario, building a commanding 27-point lead with Devin Booker back in the Suns’ lineup and having to battle through a challenging fourth quarter to fend off the surging Suns.
Coach Gregg Popovich recognized the value of these experiences in the team’s growth, noting, “We all go through those experiences, trials, and tribulations, and you learn from it. You’ve got to be in it when the lights are on, screw it up, and finally get it right. We get a lead and took a gut punch [late]. We hung in there.” He emphasized that, especially for a young team in need of learning and development, the adversity the Spurs faced during the game was a vital aspect of their progress.
The moment the Spurs established a 39-18 lead late in the first quarter, thanks to a three-pointer by Devin Vassell, marked the team’s first 20-point lead of the season, a promising milestone in their journey of growth.
Popovich Pays Tribute to the Late Walter Davis
News of the passing of the former Phoenix Suns guard-forward, Walter Davis, reached Coach Popovich approximately 90 minutes before the tipoff on Thursday, casting a somber mood over the game.
In tribute to the late basketball legend, Popovich remarked, “He was one of the great ones, especially here in Phoenix for sure. Wonderful player, wonderful man. I’m sorry to hear that.”
Walter Davis, who had played college basketball at North Carolina under the tutelage of the legendary Dean Smith, passed away from natural causes, as confirmed by a statement from his alma mater.
The Phoenix Suns, where Davis made a significant impact, paid their respects by observing a moment of silence in his honor before the tipoff. Davis, a six-time NBA All-Star and the fifth overall pick by the Suns in 1977, made an indelible mark in his first season by earning NBA Rookie of the Year honors, averaging an impressive 24.2 points per game. Over his illustrious 16-season career, he spent 11 of those years with the Suns, and in 2004, the team retired his No. 6 jersey, cementing his legacy in the franchise’s history.
By: M Z Hossain, Editor Sky Buzz Feed
