Victor Wembanyama drops 50 points in Spurs’ win over Wizards

by Junna Base November 14, 2024

Victor Wembanyama had one of the best games of his young career on Wednesday as he scored 50 points to lead the Spurs past the Wizards. Washington trailed badly in both halves but fought hard to get close before falling 139-130.

The signs that it would be a high-scoring night for Spurs and Wembanyama were there from the start as they opened the game with three consecutive outside throws. Victor’s hot run from beyond the arc continued and his two-way dominance was felt early on. The big man patrolled the field and Stephon Castle interfered on the sidelines, hampering a Wizards attack that was difficult to put into action. San Antonio had a 16-point lead early in the first frame, but unfortunately the second unit couldn’t maintain that lead. The bench took a few shots, but there was a lack of shot creation as Devin Vassell struggled and was abysmal on defense at times, allowing the visitors to get back into the game. Jordan Poole got hot and the jumpers fell for Washington, which trailed by just one after the first 12 minutes.

Wembanyama continued to be a monster on offense, but struggled to contain Jonas Valunciunas in the second quarter. The two big men went at each other, with Wemby hitting threes and attacking the slower Valanciunas, while the Lithuanian center used his weight, strength and touch to grab the attacking boards and score inside. The Spurs were still in control and provided some separation when Valanciunas went to the bench and scored points through cuts and timely attacks, but the defense once again left much to be desired with Victor on the bench, and the Wizards took care of it most of it. What had previously been a one-sided duel turned into a close game in which San Antonio eventually lost its small lead and had to hit a last-second three-pointer to tie the game at 67 before halftime.

The Spurs, one of the best teams in the third quarter this season, lived up to their reputation by creating massive separation in this frame, but it took a while. Wembanyama continued to dominate, but Jordan Poole and the Wizards’ other shooters looked good and didn’t waste it. Stops were hard to come by and when Wemby went to the bench, San Antonio was only ahead by six. The second unit, which struggled at the start of the game, stepped up at the right time to produce a great performance that gave the Silver and Black a lead of 21. The defense was also responsible for the forward drive, which was a pleasant surprise on a night where both teams didn’t do a good job of disrupting each other’s offenses. Wembanyama had 43 points at the start of the fourth period and everything seemed set for a resounding victory for Spurs.

Unfortunately, the Wizards had other plans. Wemby scored his 50-point game and San Antonio was ahead by 19 points when he was eliminated, but the comeback attempt began soon after. Poole kept getting to the rim at will and found two other teammates in Valanciunas and Cory Kispert who refused to give up. Washington quickly increased the deficit to 10, forcing Mitch Johnson to reinstate his starters. They took care of business, but not without a few scares. At first, Chris Paul showed signs of pain while clutching his wrist after a bad fall after a car ride, but it turns out it wasn’t serious pain. Second, the Wizards were down to just six points after a few missed throws from the line that left the door open for an upset. Fortunately, Spurs prevailed, although the end of the game was more exciting than it should have been.

Game play

The basket that gave Wembanyama his first, but probably not his last, 50-point game.

Game notes

Wemby’s performance was great. The eight three-pointers he made on 14 attempts were impressive, but so was his willingness to drive after realizing the danger of his jumper. He also blocked three shots and altered many others, turning the ball over only once. Superstar stuff from the big man who looks more confident than ever.
Devin Vassell couldn’t find his three-point range (1 of 8 from beyond the arc) but still managed to score 17 points on 14 shots thanks to his six free throws. Spurs are slowly bringing Vassell back, but he’s made a good impression so far.
The reason Mitch Johnson can afford to continue taking Vassell off the bench and limit his minutes is because Stephon Castle continues to be a solid starter. Castle couldn’t keep Poole in front of him at times, but was disruptive on defense and cautious on offense. The rookie is more NBA-ready than expected.
Forwards Julian Champagnie, Harrison Barnes and Keldon Johnson didn’t have great points on the night but gave a lot of effort along the boards. They combined for 18 rebounds on a night where Wembanyama only grabbed six rebounds.
The second unit struggled to create good looks, so they had to rely on Zach Collins’ passing to provide the spark, and he delivered as the playmaking focal point. The big man, who also knocked down seven boards in 16 minutes, dished out six assists, the second-most on the team.
Chris Paul helped enormously in the final moments. Not only did he make big shots, but he also kept the team composed and the clock running. Paul needs to conserve his energy at this age but when he is needed he steps up and his experience is invaluable in such a young team.
Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley had efficient scoring nights and a few assists each. Many of their minutes will disappear with Tre Jones back, but both young players have done enough to show that they can still have careers despite some ups and downs.