Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs top Minnesota Timberwolves،
SAN ANTONIO – Keldon Johnson took his place at the postgame podium and interrupted the first question asked with a question of his own.
“They’re the number one team in the West, right?” » asked the San Antonio Spurs forward.
Johnson's Spurs, who had the worst record in the Western Conference on Saturday, trailed by 15 points before coming back and hanging on for a 113-112 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, who – as Johnson said asked – entered the evening. tied for the best record in the West.
As the final buzzer sounded in the Frost Bank Center, Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama implored the crowd to get even louder as San Antonio reeled off back-to-back home wins for the first time all season.
“This is our best win,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.
Wembanyama said that if it wasn't the best win, it was the victory against the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 15 that ended a franchise-record 18 straight losses.
“But it’s definitely a good moment and I think tonight we have to be proud of what we did and get used to that feeling so we can repeat it,” Wembanyama said.
San Antonio trailed by 15 in the first half and by 10 early in the fourth quarter, but started the final quarter on a 13-2 run to take the lead with 8:42 remaining. It was a one-possession game until a 3-point basket by Wembanyama gave the Spurs a five-point lead with 1:55 to play.
With a chance to put even more distance between them late, Spurs faltered. Wembanyama missed two free throws with 49.7 seconds remaining and Anthony Edwards made a layup on the ensuing possession to tie the score at 112.
San Antonio missed a layup to go ahead, but in the race for the offensive rebound, Johnson was fouled. He made just one of his two free throws, giving Minnesota a chance to take the lead.
On the Timberwolves' final possession, the Spurs double-teamed Edwards after crossing half-court, and he found Karl-Anthony Towns on the left wing. With Wembanyama guarding him, Towns created space with a step back and attempted a 3-pointer for the win, but his shot hit the front of the rim.
“Everybody rushed and made things happen,” Johnson said of the Spurs’ defense on the final play.
“We played for each other, we played together and as a team we stepped up and made big plays,” Johnson said. “So down the stretch we had some stops and that was the main thing. It's a big moment there. It's a big moment. We all did it together.”
Devin Vassell, who scored a team-high 25 points, said he could see the team starting to change and turn around after a rough start to the season.
“I think we’re just growing and maturing,” Vassell said. “There would be times when teams would go on a run and we would put our heads down and were already almost defeated. Basketball is a game of runs. So for now, we're sticking with it. We played 48 minutes.” .
Wembanyama finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals. He was plus-14 during his 8 minutes and 36 seconds in the fourth quarter.
It was the first time Wembanyama had played consecutively since November. He had missed at least half of the last four consecutive games played by the Spurs, three since he began playing on a minutes restriction after spraining his ankle three times in 12 days.
Popovich said Wembanyama's minutes restrictions could end soon. Wembanyama, who said his body felt “as good as it can be” after playing back-to-back games, said he knew the team would be smart going forward.
“I think it’s something we need to monitor over the next 15, 20, 30 games,” Wembanyama said. “We'll see. I think I'm probably not going to play 45 minutes anytime soon.”
