By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
Despite the San Antonio Spurs being at the bottom of the Western Conference, Victor Wembanyama hasn’t stopped delivering, and he proved that once more in the overtime 122-115 win on the road in Brooklyn.
Dropping a double-double of 33 points and 15 rebounds with 7 rebounds and 7 blocks (!) as well, the 20-year-old struggled shooting from deep (1/7) but was extremely effective from two-point range (13/19).
“I love it”, Victor Wembanyama said about the clutch moments in extra regulation. “I think those moments are where we progress the most, where we get better rather than any other moment in the game. So, it’s really, really enjoyable, especially when we win”, he added.
The No.1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft went on with his analysis. “There’s always steps. Looking back and looking at the season, I can see our progression, but also my progression. Even though it feels like it’s little by little every game, when you do it every day after a whole season it adds up to something big”, he commented.
He wasn’t the only European who delivered in this game, as Jeremy Sochan (4 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Cedi Osman (10 points) also made the difference for Gregg Popovich’s team. Dennis Schroder, on the losing side, had 19 points and 7 assists in the defeat.
NBA Results and European performances
Orlando Magic – Toronto Raptors 111-96 (Franz Wagner 22 p, 8 r, 4 a; Moritz Wagner 14 p, 4 r)
Washington Wizards – Boston Celtics 104-130 (Mykhailiuk 9 p, 5 r, 2 a)
San Antonio Spurs – Brooklyn Nets 122-115 OT (Wembanyama 33 p, 15 r; Schroder 19 p, 7 a; Osman 10 p; Sochan 4 p, 9 r, 4 a)
Los Angeles Clippers – Atlanta Hawks 93-110 (Capela 15 p, 13 r; Bogdan Bogdanovic 11 p, 5 r, 4 a; Krejci 5 p; Zubac 6 p, 6 r)
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. q-Boston Celtics 53-14
2. Milwaukee Bucks 44-24
3. Cleveland Cavaliers 42-25
4. New York Knicks 40-27
5. Orlando Magic 40-28
6. Indiana Pacers 38-30
7. Miami Heat 37-30
8. Philadelphia 76ers 37-30
9. Chicago Bulls 33-35
10. Atlanta Hawks 30-37
11. Brooklyn Nets 26-42
12. Toronto Raptors 23-45
13. Charlotte Hornets 17-51
14. e-Detroit Pistons 12-55
15. e-Washington Wizards 11-57
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 47-20
2. Denver Nuggets 47-21
3. Minnesota Timberwolves 46-21
4. Los Angeles Clippers 42-25
5. New Orleans Pelicans 41-26
6. Sacramento Kings 38-28
7. Dallas Mavericks 39-29
8. Phoenix Suns 39-29
9. Golden State Warriors 35-31
10. Los Angeles Lakers 36-32
11. Houston Rockets 32-35
12. Utah Jazz 29-38
13. Memphis Grizzlies 23-45
14. e-Portland Trail Blazers 19-48
15. e-San Antonio Spurs 15-53
q-qualified for Playoffs
e-eliminated from Playoffs
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images