MINNEAPOLIS — Despite his smooth movements and natural grace on the basketball court, Victor Wembanyama’s battle-scarred arms told the real story of his dominant performance for the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night.
The fresh marks and bruises covering his lengthy limbs revealed the physical toll of battling in the paint all evening against the Minnesota Timberwolves, as the 7-foot-4 star compiled an impressive 39 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks in San Antonio’s 115-108 Game 3 triumph that put the Spurs ahead 2-1 in their second-round playoff matchup.
“It’s going to happen,” Wembanyama said. “They’re Wolves, after all.”
San Antonio maintained their perfect road record in this year’s postseason while capturing their first victory in a tight contest, following four first-round wins against Portland that were decided by margins ranging from 12 to 21 points.
“They just continue showing growth,” coach Mitch Johnson said.
Leading that development is Wembanyama himself. The 22-year-old French sensation, competing in his inaugural NBA playoffs, has appeared in just seven postseason contests but is already establishing an impressive historical mark.
Throughout NBA playoff history, only Hall of Fame centers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Shaquille O’Neal had previously achieved the combination of 35 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks in a single playoff contest. Wembanyama became the first to accomplish this feat while shooting above 70 percent from the field, connecting on 13 of 18 attempts and making 10 of 12 free throws.
“It’s good to be along with the big fellas,” said Wembanyama, who gave credit to Olajuwon for teaching him a spin fadeaway move that he successfully executed over his former mentor Rudy Gobert during a crucial 16-point fourth quarter.
Wembanyama achieved this performance despite receiving his fifth foul with 6:18 remaining, spending only about one minute on the bench during crunch time as he helped San Antonio pull away whenever Minnesota closed within striking distance.
“Just staying calm, getting my senses back,” Wembanyama said. “Our coaches tell us what to do. They give us the recipe, so as long as we stay steady and we trust our process we’re going to be all right.”
After establishing an NBA playoff record with 12 blocked shots in the series opener, Wembanyama expressed disappointment with his offensive contribution following Monday’s 104-102 defeat to Minnesota. He responded emphatically in Game 2 by immediately establishing control on both sides of the court, leading San Antonio to a commanding 133-95 victory on Wednesday, and maintained that momentum despite traveling to Minnesota.
Beginning with two spectacular dunks off alley-oop passes, including a reverse finish, Wembanyama tallied San Antonio’s first seven points as they jumped to an early 18-3 advantage. His defensive presence proved even more impactful, as he patrolled the lane and consistently forced Minnesota players to modify their close-range shots to avoid potential blocks.
“He’s a world-class defender. You’re always aware of him,” Wolves guard Ayo Dosunmu said. “Yeah, he’s a gift at that end of the court.”
