In the battle of the Rookie of the Year candidates, Victor Wembanyama (28 points and 12 rebounds) outdueled Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren (23 points and seven rebounds) to help San Antonio Spurs snap their five-game losing skid with a big win over the Thunder Friday (PHL), 132-118.
Devin Vassell also scored 28 points, and dished out nine assists in the matchup. Jeremy Sochan finished with 21 points and 10 boards after going scoreless in Spurs’ last game.Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs STUN Chet Holmgren and the Thunder as they pick up a huge win in a battle of the big men 🔥
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 1, 2024
Wemby:
28 PTS, 13 REBS, 7 ASTS, 5 BLKS, 5 3PT
Chet:
23 PTS, 7 REBS, 5 ASTS, 8-of-12 FG pic.twitter.com/uoQfTxY8WC
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder in scoring with 31 points. Jalen Williams followed with 26 points and six rebounds of his own.
Isaiah Jones contributed 15 off the Thunder bench.
Wembanyama drained back-to-back 3-pointers in the final three minutes of the game after blocking and capturing Holmgren’s own 3-point attempt.
Julian Champagnie’s 3-pointer gave the Spurs a double-digit lead at 94-82, but the Thunder responded with a 14-4 run to close the third quarter. It stretched into an 11-0 run as Oklahoma City took a 100-98 lead two minutes into the fourth.VICTOR WEMBANYAMA SEALS THE GAME 😳
— Court Side Heat (@courtsideheat) March 1, 2024
Chet Holmgren got rejected by Wemby in the Battle of the Big Men #NBA #PorVida #ThunderUp
pic.twitter.com/MtTstXGIVv
Fans also saw the two young centers trade plays in the opening minutes of the quarter, with Holmgren showing off his 3-point depth.
Oklahoma City (41-18) dropped a game behind Minnesota (42-17) atop the Western Conference. The Spurs (12-48) are last in the West, but have victories over the Timberwolves and Thunder.Chet Holmgren pull up 3 over Wembanyama. 🔥
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 1, 2024
pic.twitter.com/d2DpVe55Cu
