French prodigy Victor Wembanyama allowed the Spurs to win an intense match against Rudy Gobert’s Timberwolves on Saturday in a heated atmosphere in San Antonio (113-112). For their third duel at high altitude this season, the two pivots Victor Wembanyama (2.24 m, 23 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists) and Rudy Gobert (2.16 m, 19 points, 7 rebounds), put on the show , especially in a muscular first quarter where the two friends did not spare each other under the baskets.
Faster at the start of the game, Wembanyama, for example, feigned Karl-Anthony Towns, another Wolves “big man”, then managed a “eurostep” (change of direction on a step) in front of Gobert for an acrobatic basket, before losing the pivot Wolves on a “crossover” (change of direction on a dribble), normally reserved for smaller sizes. Gobert responded with a nifty floater in the second quarter and several opportunistic baskets, with him more often focused on defensive duties.
The gap rose to 15 points in favor of Minnesota, second in the West and an experienced team contending for the NBA title, but San Antonio, last in the same conference, never gave up, displaying constant energy. The public, accustomed to basketball mush for several months, enjoyed this disorderly energy and pushed for the return of their team in the last quarter, roaring at each action of their favorite “Wemby”, N.1 the last draft which should help the Spurs return to the top.
The 20-year-old Frenchman, author of a few three-point shots, nevertheless faltered by missing two free throws 49 seconds before the siren, allowing an equalization for the Wolves by the leaping Anthony Edwards (32 points), before making up for it with an assist for the final basket of the match from Devin Vassell (25 points). Karl-Anthony Towns missed the winning shot at the buzzer after a fierce defense from Spurs, for only their 10th success of the season (36 defeats).
“It’s perhaps our best match, in any case a very good match. Tonight we can be proud of ourselves, we have to get used to it to repeat these performances,” Wembanyama appreciated. “It’s always fun to play against Victor (…) he’s more and more comfortable, at all levels, the game is slowing down a little for him. He makes fewer mistakes too,” said Gobert about his teammate in the French team, whom he should meet again at the Paris Olympic Games (July 26 – August 11). “We are both aware of the impact of this competition, we look forward to being able to share the field even if we remain focused on our season,” added Gobert, who was to meet “Wemby” after the meeting.
In Denver, the reigning champion dominated the Philadelphia 76ers, deprived at the last minute of 2023 MVP Joel Embiid (left knee pain) and a duel of giants against Serbian pivot Nikola Jokic (26 points, 16 rebounds). Without Embiid, Tyrese Maxey or Tobias Harris, Philadelphia held up well (111-105 defeat) thanks to Paul Reed (30 points). Nicolas Batum grabbed 4 rebounds but scored no points. Miami, finalist last season, suffered a 6th consecutive defeat in New York against the Knicks (125-109) of Jalen Brunson (31 points, 8 assists). Julius Randle, left injured during the fourth quarter, dislocated his right shoulder, according to several media. In Detroit, Washington interim coach Brain Keefe signed his first victory with the Wizards (118-104) after taking office on Thursday. Frenchman Bilal Coulibaly compiled 8 points and 7 rebounds for Washington.
The performance of the night is to be credited to a certain LeBron James, author of a huge triple-double with 36 points, 20 rebounds and 12 assists during the victory of “his” Lakers on the floor of Golden State (144-145). Stephen Curry scored 46 points in this crazy match, with two overtimes to decide between the two teams.
