An all-time historic performance
graced the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio on Friday night, but
the Spurs had someone answer it with Victor Wembanyama’s historic
play of his own.
The phenomenal rookie ousted the
herculean effort of New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson, tallying a
40-point, 20-rebound, and 7-assist line to lead the San Antonio
Spurs to a thrilling 130-126 overtime win.
Brunson was sensational as he
scored 61 points on an incredible 25-47 from the field. He only
shot 6 free throws all game long and was 5-13 on threes. The
61-point outing from Brunson was one short of the all-time Knicks
scoring record by Carmelo Anthony in 2014 when he scored 62 points
vs the Charlotte Hornets.
Wembanyama’s historic night was
also his career-high scoring in points, resulting in a third
straight win for the Spurs as the presumed Rookie of the Year
frontrunner’s season winds to a close. His and Brunson’s stat line
was only the second time in NBA history that it has happened, with
the other instance happening in 1961 when Wilt Chamberlain had 78
points and 43 rebounds and Elgin Baylor had 63 points, according to
ESPN Stats and Information research.
Wembanyama sank a huge three
late in overtime to put the Spurs up four, 128-124, to keep the
Knicks in bay.
Brunson’s 61 surpassed his
career-high of 50 which was set vs the Phoenix Suns earlier in the
season.
Donte DiVincenzo, who broke the
Knicks’ record for most threes in a season, scored 20 points with 6
threes while Devin Vassell added 23 for the Spurs.
New York’s loss (44-29) moved
them half a game behind the Cleveland Cavaliers (45-29) in the race
for the third seed in the Eastern Conference after they beat the
Philadelphia 76ers, 117-114.
