San Antonio Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama scored a career-low six points, shooting 1 of 5 from the field and 0 for 3 from the 3-point line, in a 105-93 loss to fellow second-year big man Chet Holmgren and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday.
Wembanyama, 20, posted single-digit scoring games just three times during his rookie season. The Thunder were the first team to hold him under 10 points last season, when he posted eight points and 14 rebounds in a loss to Oklahoma City on Nov. 14, 2023. Wembanyama grabbed eight rebounds and blocked three shots in the loss Wednesday.
Holmgren finished second to Wembanyama in the 2024 Rookie of the Year voting, but got the best of Wembanyama in their most recent matchup. Holmgren began the game by blocking away one of Wembanyama’s shots on the opening play then blocked Jeremy Sochan seconds later on the same possession.
🙅♂️ pic.twitter.com/UYBNzqrPuU
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) October 31, 2024
In addition to the win, Homgren finished with 19 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks on 7-of-10 shooting and 3 of 3 from distance.
The Thunder remain undefeated and improve to 4-0, while the Spurs drop to 1-3 and have yet to win a game on the road.
Lessons learned for Spurs
An important night for Wembanyama and San Antonio, not because of the result but the lessons learned. Oklahoma City is arguably the best defensive team in the league and used a combination of a raucous crowd and physical scheme to nullify Wembanyama and render him ineffective.
Other teams watching this game will surely look to implement bits and pieces from the Thunder’s approach, swarming Wembanyama at the nail and keeping length at the rim.
The Spurs are going through the motions right now offensively and just haven’t jelled as a unit through their first four games, but the bigger story is Wembanyama’s inconsistency to start his second year. There was a real lack of aggression, especially when smaller defenders were latched on to him and his body language implied he was either fatigued or frustrated. If San Antonio has any hopes of improving on its 22-60 record, it starts in statement games like this.
As it relates to any rivalry with Holmgren, the Thunder big planted his flag in the ground Wednesday night and won the first matchup handily. — Kelly Iko, NBA staff writer
What they’re saying
“It’s a very good team altogether,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said after the loss. “It’s a playoff team that could very possibly go deep into the playoffs — and maybe do even better than that. They’re a better team than we are.…But that’s also besides the point. We’re trying to get to their level.
“And it’s basketball, it’s the same things that get everybody to the next level. It’s a 48-minute game. You have to bring it every quarter, every possession. So give them credit, hell of a team. Really well coached, they’re disciplined and consistent. I love their team. But I love my team too, but we’ve got more work to do than they do. And our guys have to understand that, embrace it, be professional about it and want to be more consistent in all those areas.”
Required reading
- Why Alex Caruso’s mindset, Chet Holmgren’s durability make these Thunder different
- Wemby, young Spurs step into professor Chris Paul’s classroom
- NBA Lookahead: Year 2 of Victor Wembanyama begins, and the best of the weekend
(Photo: Alonzo Adams / Imagn Images)
