The Spurs’ comeback had to be special for Victor Wembanyama, who has already experienced quite a few things on the court, to say: “It’s one of my best wins, one of the best games, one of the best moments of my career, of my life in basketball”. In the second game on consecutive nights, his team had just won 116-112 against the Clippers after coming back from 25 points down, the second largest comeback in franchise history since play-by-play (1997-98 season).
These have been the best 30 hours of basketball of my life, but I have nothing left at this moment. I’m about to pass out
Wembanyama led the Spurs with 27 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks in 22 intense minutes. It was his 16th game with four three-pointers and four blocks, the most in NBA history. He had 38+16+5 the night before in the win over the Pistons. The sum of the two games were for the French center “the best 30 hours of basketball of my life”. But he ended up shattered. “I have nothing left right now. I’m about to pass out,” he said tearfully during the on-court interview after the game.
The Clippers were down 50-75 in the third quarter, but the Spurs won 66-37 in the final 21:20. With 16 seconds left, Wembayama made a counter-attack dunk to make it 113-112 and send the Frost Bank Center into a frenzy. “It was probably the last thing I had in my body,” said the French prodigy. Then Brook Lopez lost a ball, the Spurs missed free throws but grabbed offensive rebounds and Stephon Castle ended up putting the final score.
Fox, decisive in the fourth quarter
De’Aaron Fox scored 19 points and nine assists. He was instrumental in the final stretch. He scored or assisted on 25 of San Antonio’s 35 points in the fourth quarter. For the Clippers, meanwhile, the best was Kawhi Leonard, a former idol in San Antonio but booed this time whenever he touched the ball. He had 30 points and nine rebounds.Since February 1, the Spurs’ record is 14-1, the best in the NBA. In a period of 15 games, the franchise had not achieved such a result since the 2015-16 season, when they reached a record of 67 wins. They will now have two days of rest before hosting the Rockets to try to extend their streak. “I’ll sleep well two nights. Two good nights of sleep, recovery, massages, cold and hot contrast… I recover very quickly,” Wembanyama concluded.
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