One evening after lacking out on a historic 5×5 statline by one help, Victor Wembanyama achieved it the following with 27 factors, 13 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 blocks and 5 steals in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers, changing into the primary participant to attain the 5×5 since Jusuf Nurkic in 2019. He additionally grew to become the primary participant to common a 5×5 statline throughout a number of video games since blocks began being tracked in 1973-74. Sadly, it didn’t lead his workforce to a win because the Spurs hung round practically all sport however simply didn’t have the juice or expertise to outclass the Lakers on this evening.
Wemby had his arms everywhere in the first quarter for the Spurs. He scored 13 of their first 15 factors, together with two threes, and a steal began off the quick break for the opposite two factors. Sadly, his teammates had been ice chilly, capturing 1-8 to open the sport, and it obtained no higher because the subs got here in. The Lakers protection was capable of simply sit again and guard the paint whereas the Spurs offense regarded utterly helpless. They obtained behind by as a lot as 13 earlier than Wemby needed to sub again in early thanks to 3 fast fouls for Zach Collins, and the Spurs immediately went on a 9-0 run to shut the quarter down solely 4, 26-30, with 16 of these factors belonged to Wemby.
Different Spurs lastly began scoring to within the second quarter, with the bench ending up outscoring the Lakers’ 22-4 for the half, however Darvin Ham made the adjustment of subbing LeBron James again in after the vast majority of the Spurs’ run to shut the primary got here with each him and Anthony Davis on the bench. The Lakers obtained the lead again to double-digits thanks to 2 threes from D’Angelo Russell, however in what could be the operating theme for the remainder of the sport, the Spurs fought again. Though the Spurs may by no means go on a large enough run or get sufficient stops to threaten to retake the lead, they no less than saved the Lakers from operating away and located themselves solely down 59-66 on the half.
Wemby began the second half with one other offensive present, this time as a passer, however once more, the Spurs couldn’t get stops on the opposite finish. The third quarter just about adopted the identical mantra because the second, because the Lakers would get again up by double digits, the Spurs would refuse to go away and reply with just a little run of their very own, rinse and repeat. The bench unit once more did a pleasant job to shut the quarter, getting as shut as three after being behind by has a lot as 15 earlier than the Lakers scored the final 4, making the rating 90-97 heading into the ultimate body.
Sadly, the Spurs didn’t have any juice left to make a last push. They couldn’t get something to fall exterior of Malaki Branham, who completed with 17 factors off the bench, and though Wemby simply wanted two assists so as to add one other triple-double to his resume, his teammates couldn’t hit the pictures he arrange for them. Nonetheless, he had his massive second within the last two minutes, when Austin Reeves tried to take him one-on-one on two straight possessions and obtained blocked each occasions, giving Wemby the 5×5 (he didn’t be taught from Grady Dick final week).
As they’d finished to finish the opposite three quarters, the Spurs made one last little push in rubbish time to make the ultimate rating of 118-123 seem extra respectable, however on theme with the remainder of the sport, the end result was by no means really doubtful.
Sport Notes
Wemby entered the sport having stollen one other NBA document final evening in opposition to the Kings. This time, it was changing into the youngest participant in NBA historical past to document 5 blocks and 5 assists in a sport at 20 years and 48 days, taking the document from his counterpart tonight in Davis, who did it at 20 years and 236 days outdated. So as to add insult, he did it once more tonight.
Collins lastly hit his first three within the month of February from the precise nook within the third quarter. It was a much-needed make for him, however maybe extra noteworthy was it was the one one he took throughout the move of the sport (though he took and made one other nook three in rubbish time, simply earlier than the ultimate buzzer). In any other case, he appeared to make a notable effort to work extra underneath the basket and within the pick-and-roll, making good use of his dependable leap hook. He completed the evening with 14 factors on 6-8 capturing.
One more complicated scenario in relation to the refs and video overview. With simply over 4 minutes remaining, Wemby appeared to dam a LeBron fadeaway and drive and a shot clock violation, however the refs referred to as a foul, and everybody thought Gregg Popovich had challenged the decision as they went to video overview, which appeared to verify Wemby blocked the shot earlier than making incidental contact with LeBron’s observe by means of hand. As a substitute, the refs got here out of overview simply to say the foul occurred earlier than the shot clock expired. Then Pop challenged the foul name, and it was efficiently overturned. I assume my query is, what prompted the refs to go to video overview over the shot clock exterior of the final two minutes, and in the event that they’re already there, why not allow them to be certain the decision is appropriate then? As Sean Elliott says, I don’t even know the principles anymore.
Play of the Sport
Branham is just not what you’d take into account an explosive participant, be he exploded to posterize his idol LeBron as a part of his finest efficiency in fairly some time.
Up subsequent: Sunday vs. Jazz
The penultimate sport of the Rodeo Street Journey will happen on the dwelling of the struggling Utah Jazz. Tipoff shall be at 7:00 PM CT on Bally Sports activities Southwest.
