Victor Wembanyama drops 50 points in Spurs’ win over Wizards

Victor Wembanyama had one of the best games of his young career on Wednesday, scoring 50 points to power the Spurs past the Wizards. Washington was down in both halves but fought hard to make it close before falling, 139-130.

The signs that it would be a high-scoring night for Spurs and Wembanyama were there from the start as they opened the game with three consecutive outside shots. Victor’s hot streak from beyond the arc continued and his two-way dominance was evident early on. The big man patrolled the paint and Stephon Castle was disruptive on the perimeter, hampering a Wizards offense that struggled to execute. San Antonio got out to a 16-point lead at one point in the opening frame, but unfortunately the second unit couldn’t hold it. The bench hit a few shots but lacked shot creation with Devin Vassell struggling and abysmal at times defensively, letting the visitors back into the game. Jordan Poole got hot and the jumpers fell for Washington, who trailed by just one after the first 12 minutes.

Wembanyama continued to be a monster on offense but struggled to contain Jonas Valunciunas in the second quarter. The two big men went at each other, with Wemby hitting threes and riding the slower Valanciunas and the Lithuanian center, using his weight, strength and touch to grab offensive boards and score inside. The Spurs were still in control and created some separation when Valanciunas went to the bench, putting points on the board on cuts and timely drives, but again the defense left a lot to be desired with Victor on the bench and the Wizards doing most of the work. What had previously been a lopsided matchup turned into a close game, with San Antonio eventually losing its slim lead and having to hit a last-second three-pointer to tie the game at 67 at halftime.

The Spurs, one of the best third-quarter teams this season, lived up to their reputation by creating massive separation in that frame, but it took a while. Wembanyama continued to dominate, but Jordan Poole and the other Wizards shooters looked good and didn’t waste them. Stops were hard to come by, and when Wemby went to the bench, San Antonio was only up six. The second unit, which struggled earlier in the game, stepped up at the right time to put together a big stretch that allowed the Silver and Black to go up by 21. The defense was also responsible for the push, which was a pleasant surprise on a night where both teams didn’t do a good job of disrupting each other’s offenses. Wembanyama had 43 points heading into the fourth and everything appeared to be in place for a blowout victory for the Spurs.

The wizards had other plans, unfortunately. Wemby had his 50-point game and San Antonio was ahead by 19 when he checked out, but the comeback attempt started soon after. Poole kept getting to the rim at will, and he found two other teammates who refused to give up in Valanciunas and Cory Kispert. Washington quickly cut the deficit to 10, forcing Mitch Johnson to send his starters back in. They took care of business, but not without a few scares. At first, Chris Paul showed signs of pain as he held his wrist after a hard fall after a drive, but it turned out not to be serious. In the second, the Wizards got as close as six points down after a pair of misses from the line kept the door open for the upset. Fortunately, Spurs prevailed despite the end of the game becoming more exciting than it should have been.

Play the game

The bucket that gave Wembanyama his first, but likely not his last, 50-point game.

Playing notes

• Wemby’s performance was sublime. The eight made threes on 14 attempts was impressive, but so was his willingness to drive after establishing the threat of his jumper. He also blocked three shots and altered many others, turning the ball over just once. Superstar stuff from the big man looking more confident than ever.
• Devin Vassell couldn’t find his three-point range (1-for-8 from outside), but still managed to score 17 points on 14 shots thanks to his six free throws. Spurs are slowly bringing Vassell back, but he has looked good so far.
• The reason Mitch Johnson can afford to keep bringing Vassell off the bench and limiting his minutes is because Stephon Castle remains a solid starter. Castle couldn’t keep Poole in front at times but were disruptive in defense and well thought out in attack. The rookie is more NBA ready than expected.
• Forwards Julian Champagnie, Harrison Barnes and Keldon Johnson didn’t have big scoring nights, but put a lot of effort on the boards. They combined for 18 rebounds on a night where Wembanyama pulled down just six.
• The second unit struggled to generate good looks, so it had to turn to Zach Collins’ passing for a spark, and he delivered as a play-hub. The big man, who also pulled down seven boards in 16 minutes, dished out six assists, second most on the team.
• Chris Paul helped tremendously in the final moments. He not only hit big shots, but also kept the team together and the clock ticking. Paul needs to conserve his energy at this age but when needed he steps up and his experience is invaluable in such a young team.
• Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley had efficient scoring nights and a pair of assists each. Many of their minutes will disappear once Tre Jones is back, but both young guards have done enough to show they could still carve out a career for themselves, even through some ups and downs.

Next match: Vs. Los Angeles Lakers Friday

The Spurs will face the Lakers in their first midseason tournament game. It will also be an opportunity to get over .500 for the first time this season.