WASHINGTON — Victor Wembanyama showcased an impressive performance with 31 points and 15 rebounds, leading the San Antonio Spurs to a 131-121 victory over the Washington Wizards on Monday night.
Wembanyama, who had previously set a career record with 50 points against Washington in November, gave an electrifying start to the game by sinking his first four 3-point shots within the opening eight minutes. Although he didn’t maintain that intense scoring streak throughout, the Spurs’ towering presence still proved dominant against a Wizards squad missing rookie 7-foot center Alex Sarr due to a sprained left ankle.
Alongside Wembanyama’s contributions, De’Aaron Fox added 30 points, while Chris Paul dished out 10 assists. Rookie Stephon Castle also played a significant role, contributing 16 points. For the Wizards, Tristan Vukcevic emerged as the leading scorer with 18 points.
San Antonio started strong with an impressive 22-0 run in the first quarter, establishing a commanding 28-10 lead. However, the Wizards quickly regrouped and narrowed the deficit to just three points by halftime.
Insights:
For the Spurs, securing victories like this one on the road is crucial for their playoff aspirations, especially against a struggling Wizards team that ranks at the bottom of the league standings. Although San Antonio’s initial momentum wasn’t enough to completely dominate the game, the Wizards struggled to contain both Wembanyama and Fox’s offensive efforts.
On the other hand, the Wizards managed to have nine players score in double digits but struggled significantly from beyond the arc, finishing the night with only 14 successful 3-pointers out of 47 attempts, including Jordan Poole, who had a tough outing at 2 for 13.
Crucial Moment:
A pivotal play came when Wembanyama recorded four assists, highlighted by a precision backdoor pass to Fox. This setup allowed Fox to lay the ball in, extending the Spurs’ advantage to 122-115 with just over three minutes remaining. From there, the Wizards couldn’t close the gap.
Notable Stat:
Fox excelled at the free-throw line, hitting 15 of his 18 attempts.
Looking Ahead:
The Spurs will face the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night, while the Wizards will welcome the Indiana Pacers to their home court that same evening.
