AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 33 factors and 16 rebounds because the San Antonio Spurs overcame 31 factors by Brooklyn’s Cam Thomas and beat the Nets 122-115 in extra time Sunday night time to snap a three-game skid.
Wembanyama accounted for 4 factors and two blocks in extra time because the Spurs used a 12-5 scoring edge to seal the win.
“I find it irresistible,” Wembanyama stated. “I feel these moments are the place we progress probably the most, the place we get higher quite than some other second within the recreation. So, it’s actually, actually fulfilling, particularly after we win.”
Wembanyama added seven assists and 7 blocks whereas accumulating his thirty sixth double-double in 60 video games. The 7-foot-4 rookie middle has 5 video games of at the very least 20 factors, 10 rebounds, 5 blocks and 5 assists.
Wemby put collectively a HISTORIC efficiency within the Spurs extra time win in opposition to the Nets!
33 PTS | 15 REB | 7 AST | 7 BLK | 14-26 FG
Victor Wembanyama is the primary participant in NBA historical past with 30+ factors, 15+ rebounds, 5+ assists, and 5+ blocks whereas taking pictures 50% FG in a recreation pic.twitter.com/W5rtw2RvDT
— NBA (@NBA) March 18, 2024
“They made some clutch photographs,” Brooklyn coach Kevin Ollie stated. “They made the suitable performs while you simply type of (want) to make the suitable performs. They did an unbelievable job.”
Wembanyama blocked Dennis Schroder’s layup in opposition to the glass to maintain the Spurs inside some extent. He adopted with an alley-oop dunk off an help from Devin Vassell to place San Antonio up 116-115 with 38 seconds remaining in extra time.
“Dev made the proper learn, and it simply exhibits our progress,” Wembanyama stated.
Vassell completed with 25 factors and eight assists and Keldon Johnson added 24 factors for San Antonio.
Schroder completed with 19 factors and Mikal Bridges added 14 factors, together with three in a low-scoring extra time for each groups.
Keldon Johnson’s 3-pointer with 64 seconds remaining in regulation put the Spurs up 110-107. Johnson’s 3 closed a 17-4 run, together with 4 straight factors from Wembanyama to tie the sport.
Schroder ended the run with a 3-pointer to tie the sport at 110 with 16 seconds remaining. Schroder’s 3 was sandwiched between missed long-distance photographs by Vassell and Wembanyama which might have gained the sport in regulation.
San Antonio cut up its two-game set in Austin. The Spurs had been within the Texas capital metropolis to broaden their attain financially and construct their fan base. The Spurs performed in entrance of two sellouts and 32,280 in attendance, together with a Moody Middle-record 16,223 on Friday.
“Each win is necessary,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich stated. “I don’t care if it’s in Timbuktu.”
With that, Popovich stated the Spurs will play in Paris subsequent season, though the NBA has not launched that info.
Brooklyn was with out Ben Simmons, who this week had again surgical procedure for the second time in three years.
Brooklyn (26-41) is 4 video games behind Atlanta for tenth place within the Japanese Convention and the ultimate berth within the play-in match. The Hawks had been to tackle the Los Angeles Clippers later Sunday.
The Nets misplaced 121-100 to the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night time.
“They’re disillusioned, however these guys do not make excuses,” Ollie stated. “No back-to-back and back-to-back, no excuses. They’re disillusioned. They need to win, and so they gave all of it that they had on the market.”
San Antonio (15-53) should end at the very least 5-9 in its final 14 video games to keep away from matching the worst report in franchise historical past – 20-62 set in 1997.
“There’s all the time steps,” Wembanyama stated. “Wanting again and looking out on the season, I can see our development, but in addition my development. Regardless that it feels prefer it’s little by little each recreation, while you do it on daily basis after an entire season it provides as much as one thing huge.”
Wembanyama opened the sport 3 for five from the sector after going 4 for 12 in scoring 17 factors in opposition to Denver in Friday’s loss. He completed 14 for 26.
Brooklyn opened and closed strongly, constructing an 11-point lead within the first and a 10-point benefit within the closing quarter. San Antonio chipped away on the lead each instances.
Keldon Johnson made his first 4 3-pointers to maintain the Spurs’ deficit manageable. He completed 5 for 8 on 3-pointers.
“Most groups have 4 or 5 guys on the court docket that may shoot it, so, we’ve been somewhat bit behind the curve on that most likely,” Popovich stated. “However to have Keldon try this for a time period actually buoyed us and saved us within the recreation.”