Wembanyama has 40 points, 20 rebounds, Spurs overcome Brunson's 61 points to edge Knicks in OT
SAN ANTONIO (AP) Victor Wembanyama had a career-high 40 points and added 20 rebounds and seven assists, and the San Antonio Spurs overcame Jalen Brunson’s career-best 61 points to beat the New York Knicks 130-126 in overtime on Friday night.
Wembanyama made a 3-pointer to give San Antonio a four-point lead in OT. He had the first 40-point, 20-rebound game by a rookie since Shaquille O’Neal had 46 points and 21 rebounds on Feb. 16, 1993. The No. 1 pick in the draft also had a blocked shot and a steal while collecting his 39th double-double in 65 games.
“I’ve never seen so much greatness before,” Wembanyama said. “The season has been going on for just some months. I’ve just witnessed so much greatness and I want to be a part of it. I always wanted to, but more and more seeing that I’m already able to compete with those guys. I’m not near, but I’m on the right path. I know it and I’m going to get there and soon.”
Brunson finished one point shy of Carmelo Anthony’s franchise record of 62 points on Jan. 24, 2014, missing a 3-pointer that would have given the Knicks the lead with 5.4 seconds remaining in OT.
“It’s great, but it’s washed out with the window with the loss,” Brunson said. “So, it doesn’t really matter.”
Brunson had the fifth-highest point total in the NBA this season.
“He’s special,” Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo said. "I think he’s an All-NBA talent. Even if we didn’t come away with the win tonight, I think what he did tonight showed you that he’s one of the best guards in the East. Every single night, whatever it takes to win, he does that. Tonight, it was almost.”
After stealing the ball in the final seconds to seal the victory, Wembanyama let out a huge scream in celebration and threw the ball into the stands. Will he pay for the souvenir?
“Nah,” Wembanyama said, laughing afterward. “Somebody else is going to.”
As they should, considering Wembanyama’s contributions in leading the Spurs to their first three-game winning streak of the season.
“He’s going to be one of the greatest players this game has seen,” Brunson said. “Just the way he’s built. What he’s been able to do so far. I have a lot of respect for him.”
Devin Vasell added 23 points for the Spurs (18-56), who are three victories from surpassing the worst record in franchise history of 20-62 set in 1997.
New York took its first lead at 113-112 with 4:39 remaining in regulation on a 3-pointer by DiVincenzo. There were five ties in the final minutes of regulation to set up overtime.
DiVincenzo finished with 20 points and set the Knicks’ single-season record for 3-pointers with 245.
New York (44-29) fell a half-game behind Cleveland (45-29) for third in the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers beat the Philadelphia 76ers 117-114 on Friday.
Brunson surpassed his previous career best of 50 points against Phoenix on Dec. 15. The Knicks needed of all his heroics after an uncharacteristic poor defensive effort from Tom Thibodeau’s team.
After holding their previous 10 opponents to 93.4 points per game, including three under 80 points, the Knicks gave up 74 points in the first half to the Spurs.
“They stayed strong when New York made a heck of a run,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. “To me, that’s the best part of the game. It shows that progression in what it takes to win a game in the NBA.”
San Antonio was a point shy of its season high of 75 points in the first half against Phoenix on Nov. 2.
Wembanyama alarmed the Spurs and their fans when he went limping off the court favoring his right leg with 6:24 remaining in the first quarter. He limped back to the locker room a minute later. After a tense five minutes, Wembanyama came sprinting back to the bench with two minutes left in the first quarter.
Wembanyama made the first attempt upon his return, a driving, scoop layup under Mitchell Robinson’s arm a minute into the second quarter.
The Spurs did lose Jeremy Sochan, who exited in the second quarter with a sore left ankle.
San Antonio led by as many as 13 in building a 38-27 lead in the opening quarter. It marked the first time the Spurs have scored 38 points in the opening quarter since Dec. 28, and they are 3-1 when scoring 38-plus.
“We give them confidence and they were just rolling from the beginning,” Brunson said. “I think we played well the rest of the game. We fought. They went on runs; we went on runs. We just kept on fighting, but at the beginning of the game just didn’t do good.”
UP NEXT
Knicks: Host Oklahoma City on Sunday night.
Spurs: Host Golden State on Sunday night.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Isaiah Hartenstein vs. Victor Wembanyama (Jeremy Sochan gains possession) | |||
11:42 | +3 | Julian Champagnie makes three point jump shot (Tre Jones assists) | 0-3 | |
11:36 | Josh Hart turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
11:24 | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point jump shot (Devin Vassell assists) | 0-5 | |
11:07 | Isaiah Hartenstein offensive foul (Tre Jones draws the foul) | |||
11:07 | Isaiah Hartenstein turnover (offensive foul) | |||
10:56 | +2 | Devin Vassell makes two point pullup jump shot (Victor Wembanyama assists) | 0-7 | |
10:33 | Jalen Brunson misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
10:27 | Julian Champagnie defensive rebound | |||
10:18 | Victor Wembanyama turnover (traveling) | |||
10:02 | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point driving layup | 2-7 | |
9:47 | Victor Wembanyama misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
9:44 | Josh Hart defensive rebound | |||
9:34 | Isaiah Hartenstein offensive foul (Charge) (Victor Wembanyama draws the foul) | |||
9:34 | Isaiah Hartenstein turnover (offensive foul) | |||
9:21 | Devin Vassell misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
9:17 | Mitchell Robinson defensive rebound | |||
9:07 | +3 | Donte DiVincenzo makes three point jump shot (Josh Hart assists) | 5-7 | |
8:55 | +3 | Julian Champagnie makes three point pullup jump shot (Jeremy Sochan assists) | 5-10 | |
8:34 | Jalen Brunson misses three point jump shot | |||
8:31 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
8:28 | +3 | Tre Jones makes three point running jump shot (Julian Champagnie assists) | 5-13 | |
8:20 | Knicks 60 second timeout | |||
8:05 | +2 | Donte DiVincenzo makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 7-13 | |
7:49 | Julian Champagnie misses three point jump shot | |||
7:49 | Josh Hart defensive rebound | |||
7:38 | +2 | Miles McBride makes two point pullup jump shot | 9-13 | |
7:22 | Devin Vassell misses two point jump shot | |||
7:18 | Victor Wembanyama offensive rebound | |||
7:16 | Victor Wembanyama misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
7:13 | Josh Hart defensive rebound | |||
7:09 | Josh Hart misses two point running finger roll layup | |||
7:06 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
7:02 | +2 | Jeremy Sochan makes two point running alley-oop dunk (Tre Jones assists) | 9-15 | |
6:48 | Jalen Brunson misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
6:48 | Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound | |||
6:42 | Mitchell Robinson misses two point tip layup | |||
6:40 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
6:38 | +3 | Devin Vassell makes three point running jump shot (Victor Wembanyama assists) | 9-18 | |
6:24 | Jalen Brunson misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
6:24 | Spurs defensive rebound | |||
6:07 | Zach Collins offensive foul (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | |||
6:07 | Zach Collins turnover (offensive foul) | |||
5:52 | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point driving floating jump shot | 11-18 | |
5:40 | +2 | Devin Vassell makes two point cutting layup (Zach Collins assists) | 11-20 | |
5:21 | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point driving floating jump shot | 13-20 | |
5:19 | Spurs 60 second timeout | |||
4:55 | Devin Vassell misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
4:51 | Mitchell Robinson defensive rebound | |||
4:45 | +2 | Mitchell Robinson makes two point alley-oop dunk (Jalen Brunson assists) | 15-20 | |
4:26 | Devin Vassell misses three point jump shot | |||
4:22 | Mitchell Robinson defensive rebound | |||
4:16 | +3 | Donte DiVincenzo makes three point running jump shot (Josh Hart assists) | 18-20 | |
4:05 | Jump ball. Jeremy Sochan vs. Donte DiVincenzo (Devin Vassell gains possession) | |||
3:58 | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point driving layup | 18-22 | |
3:43 | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point pullup jump shot | 20-22 | |
3:43 | Blake Wesley shooting foul (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | |||
3:43 | +1 | Jalen Brunson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 21-22 | |
3:26 | +3 | Keldon Johnson makes three point jump shot (Devin Vassell assists) | 21-25 | |
3:08 | +2 | Mitchell Robinson makes two point alley-oop dunk (Jalen Brunson assists) | 23-25 | |
2:59 | Jalen Brunson shooting foul (Blake Wesley draws the foul) | |||
2:59 | +1 | Blake Wesley makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-26 | |
2:59 | +1 | Blake Wesley makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-27 | |
2:41 | Isaiah Hartenstein misses two point driving hook shot | |||
2:37 | Zach Collins defensive rebound | |||
2:27 | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point driving layup (Zach Collins assists) | 23-29 | |
2:12 | Miles McBride misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
2:08 | Blake Wesley defensive rebound | |||
2:06 | +2 | Cedi Osman makes two point running finger roll layup (Blake Wesley assists) | 23-31 | |
2:00 | Knicks 60 second timeout | |||
1:51 | Donte DiVincenzo misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
1:47 | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | |||
1:42 | +3 | Keldon Johnson makes three point jump shot (Devin Vassell assists) | 23-34 | |
1:13 | Bojan Bogdanovic turnover (bad pass) (Devin Vassell steals) | |||
1:10 | +2 | Blake Wesley makes two point running finger roll layup (Cedi Osman assists) | 23-36 | |
0:54 | Donte DiVincenzo misses three point jump shot | |||
0:54 | Devin Vassell defensive rebound | |||
0:31 | Cedi Osman misses three point jump shot | |||
0:28 | Donte DiVincenzo defensive rebound | |||
0:27 | +2 | Isaiah Hartenstein makes two point running dunk (Donte DiVincenzo assists) | 25-36 | |
0:08 | Precious Achiuwa shooting foul (Keldon Johnson draws the foul) | |||
0:08 | +1 | Keldon Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 25-37 | |
0:08 | +1 | Keldon Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 25-38 | |
0:05 | Keldon Johnson personal foul (Take) (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | |||
0:00 | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 27-38 | |
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:39 | Bojan Bogdanovic misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
11:35 | Malaki Branham defensive rebound | |||
11:32 | +2 | Cedi Osman makes two point running layup (Keldon Johnson assists) | 27-40 | |
11:20 | Victor Wembanyama blocks Isaiah Hartenstein's two point driving layup | |||
11:20 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
11:11 | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point running layup | 27-42 | |
10:45 | Isaiah Hartenstein misses two point floating jump shot | |||
10:45 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
10:36 | Victor Wembanyama misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
10:33 | Keldon Johnson offensive rebound | |||
10:29 | Miles McBride shooting foul (Malaki Branham draws the foul) | |||
10:29 | +1 | Malaki Branham makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 27-43 | |
10:29 | Malaki Branham misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
10:26 | Donte DiVincenzo defensive rebound | |||
10:07 | +2 | Bojan Bogdanovic makes two point stepback jump shot (Shake Milton assists) | 29-43 | |
10:01 | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point alley-oop dunk (Tre Jones assists) | 29-45 | |
9:36 | Isaiah Hartenstein misses two point driving layup | |||
9:34 | Malaki Branham defensive rebound | |||
9:25 | Keldon Johnson misses three point jump shot | |||
9:20 | Shake Milton defensive rebound | |||
9:14 | Shake Milton misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
9:14 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
9:02 | +2 | Malaki Branham makes two point cutting layup (Victor Wembanyama assists) | 29-47 | |
8:47 | Bojan Bogdanovic misses three point jump shot | |||
8:45 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
8:37 | +3 | Malaki Branham makes three point jump shot (Victor Wembanyama assists) | 29-50 | |
8:28 | Tre Jones personal foul (Shake Milton draws the foul) | |||
8:28 | Knicks 60 second timeout | |||
8:18 | Jalen Brunson misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
8:15 | Tre Jones defensive rebound | |||
8:03 | Precious Achiuwa blocks Cedi Osman's two point driving layup | |||
8:00 | Shake Milton defensive rebound | |||
7:59 | Bojan Bogdanovic misses three point running jump shot | |||
7:56 | Knicks offensive rebound | |||
7:47 | +2 | Shake Milton makes two point cutting layup (Jalen Brunson assists) | 31-50 | |
7:37 | Jeremy Sochan misses two point turnaround bank hook shot | |||
7:34 | Bojan Bogdanovic defensive rebound | |||
7:27 | +2 | Precious Achiuwa makes two point jump shot (Jalen Brunson assists) | 33-50 | |
7:27 | Spurs 60 second timeout | |||
7:18 | Isaiah Hartenstein personal foul (Victor Wembanyama draws the foul) | |||
7:10 | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point driving dunk (Malaki Branham assists) | 33-52 | |
6:59 | Victor Wembanyama personal foul (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | |||
6:53 | Jeremy Sochan shooting foul (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | |||
6:53 | +1 | Jalen Brunson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 34-52 | |
6:53 | +1 | Jalen Brunson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 35-52 | |
6:40 | Mitchell Robinson shooting foul (Victor Wembanyama draws the foul) | |||
6:40 | +1 | Victor Wembanyama makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 35-53 | |
6:40 | +1 | Victor Wembanyama makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 35-54 | |
6:16 | Josh Hart misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
6:13 | Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound | |||
6:13 | Mitchell Robinson misses two point tip layup | |||
6:13 | Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound | |||
6:07 | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 37-54 | |
5:43 | Victor Wembanyama misses two point bank jump shot | |||
5:41 | Shake Milton defensive rebound | |||
5:38 | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point pullup jump shot | 39-54 | |
5:22 | Devin Vassell turnover (lost ball) (Shake Milton steals) | |||
5:21 | +2 | Bojan Bogdanovic makes two point running dunk (Josh Hart assists) | 41-54 | |
5:21 | Spurs 60 second timeout | |||
5:10 | +3 | Malaki Branham makes three point jump shot (Devin Vassell assists) | 41-57 | |
4:46 | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point pullup jump shot | 43-57 | |
4:28 | Shake Milton shooting foul (Zach Collins draws the foul) | |||
4:28 | +1 | Zach Collins makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 43-58 | |
4:28 | Zach Collins misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
4:23 | Precious Achiuwa defensive rebound | |||
4:08 | Jalen Brunson misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
4:06 | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | |||
3:58 | +3 | Devin Vassell makes three point jump shot (Keldon Johnson assists) | 43-61 | |
3:45 | +2 | Precious Achiuwa makes two point alley-oop dunk (Josh Hart assists) | 45-61 | |
3:31 | Zach Collins misses three point jump shot | |||
3:31 | Spurs offensive rebound | |||
3:31 | Precious Achiuwa personal foul (Loose ball) (Keldon Johnson draws the foul) | |||
3:31 | +1 | Keldon Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 45-62 | |
3:31 |