Super talent Victor Wembanyama has had the best game of his young NBA career so far. Comparisons are inevitable. The NBA on Friday
The bare numbers: 38 points, ten rebounds, two blocks and two assists and one steal. Victor Wembanyam’s performance in his San Antonio Spurs’ 132-121 win over the Phoenix Suns was breathtaking at times – and above all, the 19-year-old Frenchman was impossible to defend.
The Suns (2-3) led by Kevin Durant (28 points) and Devin Booker (31, 13 assists), who looked disconcerted in many scenes, tried a lot and got back into the game after trailing by 27 points. However, they were unable to prevent their second defeat against Wembanyama and his Spurs (3-2).
The super talent with his 2.24-metre height and a whole host of skills gives the Texans a completely different look than in previous seasons. Comparisons with former greats in the history of the Spurs are inevitable: Wembanyama is the third rookie in San Antonio after David Robinson and Tim Duncan to post a double-double with over 35 points in his first NBA year. Where that led the other two is well known. Robinson (two championships) and Duncan (five) shaped the most successful period in the history of the franchise.
Banchero is constantly attacking
The Orlando Magic also rely on young players – and they delivered in the 115:113 win over the Utah Jazz. An aggressively attacking Paolo Banchero (20) really turned up the heat in his second year (30 points, nine rebounds, decisive lay-up with 14 seconds left), while world champion Franz Wagner (22) added 21 points, five assists, four rebounds and four steals. His brother Moritz came off the bench as usual and also made his mark (ten points, two blocks). Orlando is thus back in positive territory (3-2), while Utah (2-4) had its best scorer in Finland’s Lauri Markkanen (22 points).
Schröder’s double-double run
The Toronto Raptors’ season remains mixed with Dennis Schröder, who managed his third double-double in a row with 13 points and ten assists, but was unable to prevent the 99:114 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. MVP Joel Embiid (28/13) was unstoppable in the first game since Harden’s move to Los Angeles, with Philly at 3-1 and Toronto at 2-4.
In the fourth game of the day, the New Orleans Pelicans dominated without the rested Zion Williams in their 125-116 win over the Detroit Pistons (2-4) and improved their record to 4-1. CJ McCollum (33 points) and Jonas Valanciunas (23/13) stepped into the breach for Williamson.
The only unbeaten teams before the start of the new in-season tournament are the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks (4-0 each).
