NBA: Victor Wembanyama puts on a show in New York but his Spurs lose to the Knicks

The match began with a long, very touching hug with his friend Jeremy Sochan, recently transferred from San Antonio to New York, but it continued in a slightly less friendly context for Victor Wembanyama. The Frenchman from Spurs pulled himself away to deliver a performance that was impressive at times, but uneven at others, and his team ended up losing (114-89) in this shock against the 3rd in the Eastern Conference.

The Knicks tried everything to limit Wemby. They put him under constant pressure, often doing it in pairs. Successfully far from the basket: Wembanyama lost 7 balls this Sunday. He also failed to adjust the 3-point sight (1/7). But he shined near the circle. Wemby finished with 25 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks. He was also very reliable on the free throw line (8/9), while the New York public constantly tried to destabilize him by whistling loudly.

But Wemby is a great player and fed the spectators at Madison Square Garden, with classy gestures that drew sighs of admiration even from Knicks fans. Like this counter on Hart at the start of the match, or this dissuasion under the basket which discouraged Mikal Bridges, although in a good shooting position but forced to backtrack. Even the NBA, which never highlights offensive “failures”, published the image on its social networks…

Wembanyama shines, Spurs stall

Wembanyama also scored some spectacular points during this early afternoon match on national television: a feint to eliminate Towns and go for a dunk, a dunk after an incursion into the New York defense, or yet another feint, followed by another angry dunk on Anunoby.

For the Spurs, it’s a small setback, which ends a series of 11 consecutive victories. The Texan team experienced a long slump, between the middle of the first quarter and the middle of the second, which could never be erased. Wemby was really too alone: ​​apart from Vassell (18 points), the Frenchman’s teammates were unsuccessful on the offensive level.

San Antonio mainly fished at 3 points (only 26% success), and New York enjoyed itself. Two players stood out for the Knicks: Jalen Brunson, who woke up his team in the middle of the first quarter with 8 points in a row, and Mikal Bridges, uncompromising with three points (5/9). Another Frenchman, Mohamed Diawara, also showed up (14 points).

Have the Knicks found the recipe? New York had already beaten San Antonio in the NBA Cup final in December. The Spurs, who are having a breathtaking season (2nd in the Western Conference) have a positive record against all their competitors for the title this season… except New York. Wemby and his teammates will play the last game of their road trip this Tuesday in Philadelphia.