We always remember our first time. French prodigy Victor Wembanyama, brilliant during a crazy end to the match in a melting arena, snatched his first NBA victory with the Spurs against Houston (126-122) Friday in San Antonio. After equalizing at 111 and defending with energy to go into overtime, “Wemby” shone during the five extra minutes and capsized the San Antonio public, who dream of returning to the top with their 19-year-old French jewel.
“I’m proud of what we did tonight. It surprised me to want to celebrate in the locker room, it’s only a victory, but it’s a day that I will remember,” said the Frenchman, author of 21 points and 12 rebounds, his first “double-double”, accompanied by an assist, two interceptions and three blocks. Everything started badly, however, with a messy match on both sides, Wembanyama without three-point skills (0 out of 6) and often placed on the bench by his coach Gregg Popovich.
“A victory of desire”
Houston even made a small gap during the fourth quarter, before the Spurs finally woke up, in the wake of the Frenchman, notably author of a spectacular double counter on Jabari Smith Jr to reverse the trend.
“It’s a victory of desire. We saw that the momentum changed in the fourth quarter. Collectively, we have completely changed the situation. Individual level I wanted it, badly,” commented Wembanyama at a press conference. The Frenchman snatched extra time by driving an opponent for a basket near the circle, before fighting on the rebound and winning a decisive jump ball. Then he immediately set the tone for the end of the match with a mid-range basket.
Nico Batum and the Clippers in the viewfinder
Triggered by a dunk in the last period, the “Wemby, Wemby!” » then continued to come down from the stands. The enamored fans weren’t the only ones screaming at the Frenchman, who received a memorable blow from his tempestuous coach one minute from the end of the match. “I forgot a system. It’s a small mistake, it was completely legitimate for him to shout at me, I apologize,” he smiled.
A perfect example of the immense work that awaits the Spurs to return to the top, this second match launches the Frenchman into his NBA adventure after his inaugural defeat against Dallas on Wednesday, during a meeting which had been marred by numerous errors from his team. share (15 points, 5 faults). The Spurs now have an appointment on Sunday in Los Angeles to face the Clippers, an opponent of a priori higher caliber than Houston, where his teammate in the French team Nicolas Batum plays.