The second was the right one. Defeated by Dallas at home on Wednesday, at the opening of the NBA season (126-119), Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs reacted on Friday by snatching a complicated victory against Houston (126-122 ap), which made them thwart a good part of the match. “It wasn’t good for three quarters, but I’m proud to snatch my first victory,” reacted the French player, author of his first career double-double (21 points, 12 rebounds).
Author of 5 fouls which prevented him from finding the rhythm against the Mavs, the native of Chesnay (Yvelines) knew how to contain himself defensively against the Rockets (2 fouls), but was particularly clumsy on the shoot (7/19 including 0 /6 at three points). Everything was decided three minutes from the end of the fourth quarter, when “Wemby” returned to the field in clutch time. He first made an impressive double block on Jabari Smith Jr, before bringing the two teams back to a tie on a lay-up that brought the 18,354 spectators at the Frost Bank Center to their feet.
During overtime, the Spurs quickly took the lead and were no longer caught, under the leadership of Victor Wembanyama and Devin Vassell, top scorer of the match tied with Houston interior Alperen Sengun (25 units each ). “We sometimes showed serenity and at other times not at all. We are still a team under construction,” summarized Gregg Popovich after the match, who we notably saw throw a big tantrum at Victor Wembanyama in the final moments of the match. “I forgot a play pattern. A rookie mistake,” explained “Wemby”, who celebrated his first victory with the fans by remaining on the floor for long seconds.
“Wemby” with “Pop”. (A. Réau/The Team)
The Spurs and their French prodigy will continue this Sunday with a trip to Los Angeles to face the Clippers of another Habs, Nicolas Batum.
