By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Despite the San Antonio Spurs falling short to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Victor Wembanyama excites fans.
On Monday, Wembanyama, 19, tallied 20 points behind 8/13 field goals over 19 minutes in Paycom Center. His efforts additionally resulted in five rebounds, two steals, and one block.
Dazzling moves and playmaking qualities were on display. However, the Spurs suffered a narrow loss, 122-121, in the 2023 NBA Preseason opener for both sides.
Besides the generational talent stemming from France, Turkish Cedi Osman produced seven points, four rebounds, and two assists in 18 minutes, Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili had two points, one rebound, and one assist in eight minutes, and French Sidy Cissoko registered two assists and one rebound over ten minutes.
An exciting prospect shining for the winning side, Chet Holmgren scored 21 points. Latvian Davis Bertans tucked in four triples in a 12-point showing, French Ousmane Dieng chipped in nine points, nine rebounds, three assists, and one steal lasting 26 minutes, and French Olivier Sarr combined one rebound with one assist. Serbians Vasilije Micic and Aleksej Pokusevski were both sidelined.
The New York Knicks defeated the Boston Celtics in Madison Square Garden, 114-107. French Evan Fournier and German Isaiah Hartenstein combined for 20 points, 11 plus nine. For the Celtics, Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk went for 15 points and Portuguese Neemias Queta had seven points, but Latvian Kristaps Porzingis did not play.
Also, the Los Angeles Lakers edged out the Brooklyn Nets, 129-126, in T-Mobile Arena.
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