Victor Wembanyama, Spurs take on red-hot Thunder
Victor Wembanyama ran away with NBA Rookie of the Year honors last season.
His closest challenger for that honor, Chet Holmgren, spent last season helping his team to the best record in the Western Conference and a playoff series win.
Two of the league's best young big men square off for the first time this season when Wembanyama's San Antonio Spurs take on Holmgren's Oklahoma City Thunder Wednesday night in Oklahoma City.
"Two big guys going at it," Spurs backup center Zach Collins told the San Antonio Express-News. "You don't really see that too much anymore, so it is fun to watch. Kind of has a very old-school feel to it, two bigs going at it, two heavyweights, and it seems like both of those guys like that matchup and they take it personal."
Last season, the Thunder won three of four games against the Spurs.
Wembanyama played in three of the four games, averaging 20 points, 13 rebounds and 4.3 assists. That included a 28-point, 13-rebound, seven-assist showing in late February, a key performance that helped Wembanyama win the award unanimously.
Holmgren averaged 14.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists against the Spurs last season across those four games.
So far this season, Wembanyama has shown some effects from a busy offseason that included playing for France in the Olympics.
In San Antonio's 1-2 start, he's averaging 20 points, 12 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.7 blocks but is shooting just 22.2 percent from beyond the arc. That's down from his 32.5 percent average from last season.
"I'm in shape," Wembanyama said. "But now it's just getting used to playing again, my teammates, the different ways teams guard us, different strategies. Everybody's going to get better as the season goes on."
Holmgren has averaged 23.7 points, 13 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 4.0 blocks so far to help the Thunder start 3-0 for the first time since 2016.
Even with a second stretch of three games in four days early in the season, Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said he won't be limiting minutes for either Holmgren or the Thunder's other young core anytime soon.
"With all the guy's minutes, I try to be aware of the schedule, I try to be aware of the game context," Daigneault said. "These guys are young players and one of the benefits of having young players is they can go. They don't need to be bubble-wrapped."
Oklahoma City has won its three games by 15 or more points, though its offense continues to be inconsistent.
The Thunder have the best defensive rating in the league so far, though, allowing just 90.8 points per 100 possessions.
"Our compete level has been really high," Daigneault said. "I understand the numbers have been really good in a very small sample, but none of that carries over.
"You are the level that you play at every night, so we have to play to that level again (Wednesday)."
The Thunder figure to be limited again in the frontcourt outside of Holmgren with Isaiah Hartenstein (hand), Jaylin Williams (hamstring) and Kenrich Williams (knee) all out.
The Spurs will be without Tre Jones for a third consecutive game after he suffered a right ankle sprain in the opener.
--Field Level Media
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Victor Wembanyama vs. Chet Holmgren (Jeremy Sochan gains possession) | |||
11:43 | Chet Holmgren blocks Jeremy Sochan's two point layup | |||
11:39 | Luguentz Dort defensive rebound | |||
11:35 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses three point running jump shot | |||
11:32 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
11:20 | Chris Paul turnover (bad pass) (Chet Holmgren steals) | |||
11:17 | +2 | Luguentz Dort makes two point running layup (Chet Holmgren assists) | 0-2 | |
11:03 | Victor Wembanyama misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
11:01 | Jalen Williams defensive rebound | |||
10:48 | Jalen Williams turnover (lost ball) (Julian Champagnie steals) | |||
10:42 | Chet Holmgren shooting foul (Victor Wembanyama draws the foul) | |||
10:42 | +1 | Victor Wembanyama makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 1-2 | |
10:42 | +1 | Victor Wembanyama makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-2 | |
10:28 | Chet Holmgren misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
10:25 | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | |||
10:13 | +2 | Jeremy Sochan makes two point layup (Victor Wembanyama assists) | 4-2 | |
10:01 | Jalen Williams misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
9:58 | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | |||
9:52 | Julian Champagnie misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
9:50 | Victor Wembanyama offensive rebound | |||
9:50 | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point putback layup | 6-2 | |
9:40 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses two point driving layup | |||
9:38 | Julian Champagnie defensive rebound | |||
9:32 | +2 | Harrison Barnes makes two point cutting layup (Chris Paul assists) | 8-2 | |
9:32 | Thunder 60 second timeout | |||
9:21 | +2 | Cason Wallace makes two point driving layup | 8-4 | |
9:04 | Jeremy Sochan misses two point driving layup | |||
9:02 | Luguentz Dort defensive rebound | |||
8:57 | +3 | Luguentz Dort makes three point running jump shot (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 8-7 | |
8:42 | Julian Champagnie turnover (bad pass) (Jalen Williams steals) | |||
8:36 | Cason Wallace misses three point jump shot | |||
8:33 | Julian Champagnie defensive rebound | |||
8:23 | Cason Wallace shooting foul (Harrison Barnes draws the foul) | |||
8:23 | +1 | Harrison Barnes makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 9-7 | |
8:23 | +1 | Harrison Barnes makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 10-7 | |
8:18 | +3 | Chet Holmgren makes three point jump shot (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 10-10 | |
7:51 | Jeremy Sochan misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
7:48 | Harrison Barnes offensive rebound | |||
7:46 | Jeremy Sochan misses two point layup | |||
7:46 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defensive rebound | |||
7:37 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses three point jump shot | |||
7:35 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
7:17 | Chris Paul misses three point jump shot | |||
7:14 | Jalen Williams defensive rebound | |||
7:06 | +3 | Chet Holmgren makes three point jump shot (Luguentz Dort assists) | 10-13 | |
6:53 | Julian Champagnie misses three point jump shot | |||
6:50 | Chris Paul offensive rebound | |||
6:49 | Chris Paul turnover (bad pass) (Jalen Williams steals) | |||
6:46 | +2 | Jalen Williams makes two point running dunk | 10-15 | |
6:44 | Spurs 60 second timeout | |||
6:44 | Spurs delay of game violation | |||
6:30 | Harrison Barnes misses three point jump shot | |||
6:26 | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | |||
6:19 | Jalen Williams misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
6:16 | Zach Collins defensive rebound | |||
6:07 | Zach Collins misses three point jump shot | |||
6:04 | Jalen Williams defensive rebound | |||
5:55 | Chet Holmgren misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
5:53 | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | |||
5:36 | Harrison Barnes misses two point layup | |||
5:35 | Harrison Barnes offensive rebound | |||
5:34 | Chris Paul turnover (out of bounds step) | |||
5:18 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
5:14 | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | |||
4:59 | Keldon Johnson turnover (back court violation) | |||
4:53 | Zach Collins shooting foul (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws the foul) | |||
4:53 | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 10-16 | |
4:53 | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 10-17 | |
4:30 | Blake Wesley misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
4:27 | Luguentz Dort defensive rebound | |||
4:18 | +3 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes three point jump shot (Alex Caruso assists) | 10-20 | |
4:05 | +3 | Zach Collins makes three point jump shot (Jeremy Sochan assists) | 13-20 | |
3:52 | +3 | Ousmane Dieng makes three point jump shot (Cason Wallace assists) | 13-23 | |
3:37 | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point layup | 15-23 | |
3:24 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
3:22 | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | |||
3:14 | Stephon Castle misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
3:13 | Zach Collins offensive rebound | |||
3:09 | +2 | Blake Wesley makes two point layup (Zach Collins assists) | 17-23 | |
2:50 | +3 | Cason Wallace makes three point stepback jump shot (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 17-26 | |
2:30 | Jeremy Sochan misses two point layup | |||
2:29 | Jeremy Sochan offensive rebound | |||
2:28 | +2 | Jeremy Sochan makes two point putback layup | 19-26 | |
2:12 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
2:10 | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | |||
1:52 | Zach Collins turnover (lost ball) (Alex Caruso steals) | |||
1:48 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
1:45 | Luguentz Dort offensive rebound | |||
1:35 | Cason Wallace misses two point driving layup | |||
1:35 | Thunder offensive rebound | |||
1:35 | Keldon Johnson personal foul (Loose ball) (Luguentz Dort draws the foul) | |||
1:20 | Thunder turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
1:02 | Stephon Castle misses three point jump shot | |||
0:59 | Aaron Wiggins defensive rebound | |||
0:49 | Chet Holmgren offensive foul (Keldon Johnson draws the foul) | |||
0:49 | Chet Holmgren turnover (offensive foul) | |||
0:32 | Blake Wesley misses three point jump shot | |||
0:30 | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | |||
0:22 | Aaron Wiggins misses three point jump shot | |||
0:19 | Stephon Castle defensive rebound | |||
0:01 | Keldon Johnson misses three point jump shot | |||
0:01 | Spurs offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:36 | Thunder turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
11:18 | Malaki Branham misses two point floating jump shot | |||
11:15 | Jalen Williams defensive rebound | |||
11:05 | Aaron Wiggins misses two point jump shot | |||
11:02 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
10:51 | Keldon Johnson turnover (bad pass) (Jalen Williams steals) | |||
10:45 | +2 | Chet Holmgren makes two point running dunk (Jalen Williams assists) | 19-28 | |
10:43 | Spurs 60 second timeout | |||
10:22 | Malaki Branham misses two point driving layup | |||
10:19 | Zach Collins offensive rebound | |||
10:19 | Chet Holmgren blocks Zach Collins's two point putback layup | |||
10:19 | Isaiah Joe defensive rebound | |||
10:09 | Zach Collins blocks Aaron Wiggins's two point driving dunk | |||
10:06 | Malaki Branham defensive rebound | |||
9:54 | +3 | Malaki Branham makes three point jump shot (Keldon Johnson assists) | 22-28 | |
9:35 | +3 | Isaiah Joe makes three point stepback jump shot (Jalen Williams assists) | 22-31 | |
9:21 | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point driving layup (Stephon Castle assists) | 24-31 | |
9:06 | +2 | Chet Holmgren makes two point turnaround jump shot | 24-33 | |
8:47 | Julian Champagnie misses three point jump shot | |||
8:44 | Aaron Wiggins defensive rebound | |||
8:39 | +2 | Jalen Williams makes two point running layup (Aaron Wiggins assists) | 24-35 | |
8:26 | +2 | Malaki Branham makes two point driving layup | 26-35 | |
8:14 | Jalen Williams misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
8:13 | Thunder offensive rebound | |||
8:07 | +2 | Chet Holmgren makes two point driving layup (Jalen Williams assists) | 26-37 | |
7:50 | Chris Paul misses three point jump shot | |||
7:48 | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | |||
7:42 | Chet Holmgren misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
7:39 | Julian Champagnie defensive rebound | |||
7:32 | Malaki Branham misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
7:30 | Ajay Mitchell defensive rebound | |||
7:24 | +2 | Ajay Mitchell makes two point driving layup | 26-39 | |
7:19 | Julian Champagnie turnover (bad pass) (Jalen Williams steals) | |||
7:15 | +3 | Chet Holmgren makes three point jump shot (Isaiah Joe assists) | 26-42 | |
6:56 | Jalen Williams personal foul (Harrison Barnes draws the foul) | |||
6:48 | Keldon Johnson misses three point jump shot | |||
6:44 | Jeremy Sochan offensive rebound | |||
6:43 | Jalen Williams blocks Victor Wembanyama's two point layup | |||
6:39 | Harrison Barnes offensive rebound | |||
6:37 | Jeremy Sochan misses three point jump shot | |||
6:35 | Jalen Williams defensive rebound | |||
6:24 | +3 | Ajay Mitchell makes three point jump shot (Jalen Williams assists) | 26-45 | |
5:57 | +2 | Harrison Barnes makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 28-45 | |
5:46 | Chet Holmgren turnover (traveling) | |||
5:25 | Victor Wembanyama turnover (bad pass) (Alex Caruso steals) | |||
5:17 | +2 | Aaron Wiggins makes two point running layup (Ousmane Dieng assists) | 28-47 | |
4:53 | +2 | Jeremy Sochan makes two point layup (Chris Paul assists) | 30-47 | |
4:44 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
4:41 | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | |||
4:39 | +2 | Jeremy Sochan makes two point running layup (Chris Paul assists) | 32-47 | |
4:27 | Ousmane Dieng misses three point jump shot | |||
4:23 | Chris Paul defensive rebound | |||
4:19 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander personal foul (Chris Paul draws the foul) | |||
4:17 | Victor Wembanyama misses three point jump shot | |||
4:14 | Harrison Barnes offensive rebound | |||
4:13 | Harrison Barnes misses two point putback layup | |||