Victor Wembanyama orchestrated a stunning comeback victory for the San Antonio Spurs against the Los Angeles Clippers, whereas Jayson Tatum made a deeply emotional return to the court for the Boston Celtics, leading them to a win over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday in NBA action.
Abracadabra, Wemby
Following a dominant win against the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons, the San Antonio Spurs appeared sluggish at the start of their Friday matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. By early in the third quarter, the Clippers had built a commanding 25-point lead (75-50). However, fueled by Wembanyama’s exceptional performance, the Spurs mounted an improbable rally, securing a 116-112 victory in the final seconds.
“All games can be won,” Wembanyama stated, highlighting the team’s resilience. The French phenom, a leading candidate for the Most Valuable Player award, led the Spurs in scoring with 27 points, adding 10 rebounds and four blocks to his stat line. The Spurs’ 14th win in 15 games was also bolstered by strong performances from Julian Champagnie (20 points) and De’Aaron Fox (19 points).
Emotion in Boston for Tatum
After a ten-month absence due to a ruptured Achilles tendon sustained during the playoffs last May, Jayson Tatum returned to the court at TD Garden. The Boston Celtics delivered a commanding performance, defeating the Dallas Mavericks 120-100. Tatum scored 15 points, receiving a standing ovation from the enthusiastic home crowd for his first game appearance in 298 days.
Jayson Tatum lors du match NBA des Boston Celtics contre les Dallas Mavericks, le 6 mars 2026 à Boston Maddie Meyer / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
Initially appearing hesitant, Tatum regained his form after scoring his first points late in the second quarter. “It was unreal, an emotional day,” Tatum shared on ESPN. “I’ve been dreaming about this moment for days, and it’s great that it’s finally here. Sharing it with my family, my teammates, and the fans was everything I dreamed of.”
Throughout his rehabilitation, the six-time All-Star admitted to moments of self-doubt. “I doubted myself many times. I cried a lot at night. But every day I tried to get up and start on the right foot. I still have a long way to go, but this is a big step forward for me,” he added. Tatum emphasized that the strong play of his teammates and the Celtics’ successful season motivated his return.
“The rehab process is lonely, you feel isolated. But being around them (his teammates) as much as possible made me feel like I was part of the group, and that helped a lot,” he explained.
With the victory over Dallas, the Celtics now hold a record of 42 wins and 21 losses, closely trailing the Eastern Conference leader, Detroit (45 wins and 16 losses).
New York Dominates
The New York Knicks delivered a resounding performance, overwhelming the Denver Nuggets 142-103, with OG Anunoby leading the charge with 38 points. Nikola Jokic contributed 38 points for the Nuggets, but a second-quarter ankle injury to Jamal Murray proved detrimental to Denver’s chances. Nuggets coach David Adelman, however, refused to attribute the loss solely to Murray’s injury, stating, “It’s not why we got our butts kicked, it’s because my guys gave up like they weren’t competing from the last three minutes of the third quarter. They played well, and we were terrible.”
The NBA season continues to deliver compelling storylines, with Wembanyama’s emergence and Tatum’s triumphant return serving as highlights of a thrilling Friday night of basketball. The Celtics and Spurs will look to continue their momentum as the regular season progresses, while the Nuggets will necessitate to regroup after a disappointing performance in Denver.
What’s next: The Boston Celtics will face the Philadelphia 76ers on March 10th at the Wells Fargo Center. The San Antonio Spurs will host the Utah Jazz on March 9th at the Frost Bank Center.
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