Victor Wembanyama set a career-high with 24 rebounds, then made the winning free throw with 24.2 seconds remaining to cap his career-best performance of 52 points as the San Antonio Spurs outlasted the Dallas Mavericks 112-111 for their sixth straight victory.
The Spurs’ home crowd greeted Wembanyama with MVP chants on Wednesday, and he also excelled on defense. The Frenchman blocked eight shots, including three in just 13 seconds in the second quarter.
“If I got blocked three times in a row, I feel like I would be pretty upset,” Spurs guard Dylan Harper said. “But that’s Vic. He prides himself on his defensive side and things like that just come naturally to him.”
The Spurs led by 19 points early in the third quarter before Dallas pulled within two with 8:17 to play, then took the lead to 103-100 on PJ Washington’s three-pointer with 5:38 to play. The lead shifted from there. Dallas’ Naji Marshall tied it at 111 with a jumper from beyond the arc with 1:41 left, and Wembanyama’s game-clinching free throw put the Spurs back on top for good. Kyrie Irving missed a contested turnaround jumper in the lane with 2.5 seconds left and time expired.
Harper added 21 points, Stephon Castle 17 and De’Aaron Fox scored 10 for San Antonio. Irving led Dallas with 29 points and Cooper Flagg contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds. The Mavericks have lost two straight games.
Wembanyama became the first player in the last 30 seasons to record at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots in a half. He also made all 15 of his free throws in the first half.
The 22-year-old Frenchman believes he can improve.
“It’s just about figuring things out,” Wembanyama said. “Sometimes we’re a step ahead. Plus, I haven’t been feeling well lately. I’m sick. I felt like I had my legs back. So it should be more like that more often.”
Harper believes Wembanyama deserves to be compared to one of the NBA’s greatest players.
“It’s basically Wilt (Chamberlain),” Harper said. “The other team is trying to do everything (to stop Wembanyama). They’re throwing out every adjustment, every adjustment. It’s hard to keep this big guy out of the paint. He’s so dominant when he screens and rolls. He knows how to get to his spots. He’s great at the free throw line. So for us, it’s just a matter of how do we get him the ball and how do we keep the low man away?”
Gn sports
