A good Victor Wembanyama, opposed to his rookie competitor Chet Holmgren, was not enough for the San Antonio Spurs, crushed at home (140-114) Wednesday by Oklahoma City and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Wembanyama was keen to shine on Wednesday against Chet Holmgren, another giant (2.16 m) with extraordinary agility, while the two players will a priori compete for the title of rookie of the year at the end of the season. With 24 points, the 20-year-old Frenchman (2.24 m), often taken in defense by Holmgren, did the job and even managed a spectacular counterattack on his opponent during the second quarter.
His American competitor finished with 17 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks.
“Wemby” finished with a double-double with 24 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks in 27 minutes, his franchise having authorized him to increase his playing time, reduced since December and an ankle injury.
“It’s not for that (the rivalry) that I fight on the field, it’s to win,” defused the Frenchman.
But the Spurs, last in the Western Conference, were no match for the Thunder, led by a diabolical Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Canadian drowned the Texans in the 3rd quarter (16 points) to finish with 32 points and 10 assists.
OKC remains in the lead in the West, with the same record as Minnesota (31 wins – 13 losses).
San Antonio hosts Portland on Friday then Minnesota on Saturday.
SEE ALSO – Paris SG unveils its fourth jersey for the 2023-2024 season