LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Victor Wembanyama scored 30 points as the San Antonio Spurs produced their highest-scoring game of the season in a 144-118 blowout against the Milwaukee Bucks yesterday.
French prodigy Wembanyama was in superb form at both ends of the court, hauling down 14 rebounds and making six blocks while draining five-of-11 attempts from three-point range.
Wembanyama received plenty of scoring support from the Spurs lineup, with all of the starting five finishing with double-digit points tallies.
Stephon Castle scored 20 points while Harrison Barnes added 16, with Keldon Johnson chipping in with 24 off the bench.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee’s scoring with 35 points while Damian Lillard finished with 22 points.
But the headlines belonged to Wembanyama, the former number one draft pick who once again displayed the sort of form that has earned him a call-up to next month’s NBA All-Star Game in San Francisco.
“I could feel like everybody was tired of losing,” Wembanyama said afterward. “So we didn’t let go the whole game. The game was consistently hard, but there wasn’t a moment where we let them go on huge runs. So I hope we can get inspired by that.”
San Antonio’s caretaker head coach, Mitch Johnson, praised Wembanyama’s influence in marshaling the Spurs defense.
“I thought Victor was quarterbacking the defense tonight with his communication,” Johnson said.
“That’s another level for him. He does so many tremendous plays with his talent and unique skill set. When he starts using his voice as a skill and connecting our defense as a team – it takes it to another level.”
JOKIC LATE SHOW
In other games on Friday night, a late burst of scoring
from Nikola Jokic helped the Denver Nuggets overcome a 42-point display from Tyrese Maxey to dig out a hard-earned 137-134 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on the road.
Serbian star Jokic just missed out on adding to his season tally of 21 triple doubles, finishing with 28 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds, but helped Denver get over the line by reeling off eight points late in the fourth quarter to settle a pulsating duel that saw the lead change hands no fewer than 16 times.
Nuggets guard Jamal Murray was in scintillating form for Denver, finishing with 31 points, while Michael Porter Jr added 24 points.
Maxey meanwhile was left empty-handed after another talismanic performance that included making six-of-11 from beyond the arc. Guerschon Yabusele backed Maxey with 28 points, with Kelly Oubre Jr scoring 27.
The Nuggets improved to 29-19 with the win and remain fourth in the Western Conference, nine games behind leaders Oklahoma City. Philadelphia fell to 19-28 and are sitting in 11th place in the Eastern Conference table, just outside the postseason places.
TATUM SAVES CELTICS
In New Orleans, meanwhile, Jayson Tatum’s jump shot with 0.2 seconds remaining handed the Boston Celtics a thrilling 118-116 victory over the Pelicans.
Tatum finished with 27 points while Jaylen Brown led Boston’s scoring with 28.
