Some players need a full night to fill a box score. In Phoenix on Monday, the Spurs centre needed barely half a game to produce one of the most efficient scoring nights the NBA has ever seen.
Victor Wembanyama finished with 40 points, 11 rebounds and 9 blocks in just 25 minutes as the San Antonio Spurs rolled past the Phoenix Suns 122-96. The win stretched San Antonio’s streak to nine games.
Victor Wembanyama joins a very short list
The Frenchman set the tone with 14 points in the first quarter and had 22 by halftime. By the time he sat for good, the contest was long decided.
He became only the second player since minutes were first tracked in 1951-52 to score 40 or more in under 26 minutes. The other was Sleepy Floyd, who put up 40 in 24 minutes in February 1991. It was the standout line from Monday night across the league.
Devin Booker did his best to keep Phoenix afloat with a team-high 32 points, but the Suns had no answer at the rim.
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Booker described his opponent as something the league has never seen before. Suns coach Jordan Ott admitted the defensive plan failed, adding that the Spurs star does this to everyone.
Victor Wembanyama kept it simple afterwards, saying this level is where he wants to be. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson praised his positioning and how well his teammates keep finding him.
It is a long way from opening night, when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder got the better of San Antonio. Since then, the Spurs have found a rhythm that few teams can match.
Nine straight wins is a statement in a crowded Western Conference. If their franchise star keeps producing nights like this, the conversation in San Antonio will shift from promise to genuine title talk.
