The French pivot once again shone on the NBA floors by leading the San Antonio Spurs to victory against the title holders and league leaders, Oklahoma City Thunder.
Last night was the “Christmas Games”, the NBA Christmas games. The American Basketball League knows how to highlight its posters as gifts for basketball fans. And Santa’s sack was full: a peak of intensity in the Eastern Conference between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers in a white-hot Madison Square Garden (126-124 victory for the Knicks), a breathtaking Nikola Jokic with the Denver Nuggets against the Minnesota Wolves (142-138 victory with 56 points, 16 rebounds and 15 assists) and therefore this match between the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma Thunder.
The visual impression of a giant among children
A real rivalry was born between the two teams. Undisputed leader of the League, defending champion, the team led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the clear favorite. Already beaten twice but away by the San Antonio Spurs, they had to show authority at home against their Texan rivals. But quite the opposite happened. Despite a great start, the Thunder were never able to stop De’Aaron Fox (29 points) and Stephen Castle (19 points). And of course our Frenchman Victor Wenbanyama shone.
Still coming off the bench because he was recovering from a calf injury, “Wemby” had donned his superhero cape (or rather supervillain as he inflamed the hostile crowd with vocal demonstrations). Nineteen points, eleven rebounds and a visual impression of a giant playing with children. Thanks to this success (117-102), the Spurs come back to just two victories from the Thunder. Close, very close to the heights of the NBA.
