By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
With Wembanyama leading the way in his home country, the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Indiana Pacers in the first of two 2025 NBA Paris Games with a 30-point margin (140-110).
It was a dream homecoming for Wembanyama in front of the French crowd, but the rematch at the Accor Arena told a different story. The Pacers made a strong push in the second half and dominated the Spurs 136-98.
After trailing 50-67 at the beginning of the third quarter, San Antonio went on a big run to briefly take the lead, but Tyrese Haliburton reignited the Pacers’ offense and, within minutes, brought his team back to a 98-86 advantage.
The Spurs never recovered. Rick Carlisle’s team opened the fourth quarter with a massive 19-2 run and never looked back, further extending the lead to the final 136-98 scoreline.
Haliburton led the way for the Pacers with 28 points, while Pascal Siakam recorded a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Andrew Nembhard flirted with a triple-double, contributing 15 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds.
Wembanyama was unable to stop the Spurs’ struggles in the final 12 minutes, finishing the game with 20 points, 12 rebounds, and two assists. Harrison Barnes added 25 points, while Stephon Castle scored 17, with 15 of them coming in the second half. Chris Paul came close to a double-double with 11 points and eight assists.
Indiana improved to 25-20 in the Eastern Conference standings, while San Antonio dropped to 20-23 in the West.