Highlights: Barnes, Vassell, & Wembanyama combine for 79 against Timberwolves

12/30/2024 12:23 PM

Another close game, another heartbreak.

Coming off a win against the Brooklyn Nets this past Friday, the Spurs looked to end their four-game road trip with another dub. This time their opponent was the Minnesota Timberwolves. After taking an eight-point lead after the first, the Spurs were outscored in the second 32-12 and trailed Minnesota 57-45 at halftime. The game was tied going into the fourth, and the game quickly became a back-and-forth affair. In under a minute, the Spurs trailed by two points two times in a row. The first time, Victor Wembanyama was fouled and had a chance to tie. Unfortunately, he missed his second free throw, and Donte Divincenzo was fouled. Fortunately, he missed his first free throw, but made the second. The Spurs were again down by two with a chance to win the game or take it to OT. Jeremy Sochan missed a three,

Victor Wembanyama led the way with 34 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and a steal. He was four of twelve from three, including three straight misses on key possessions late in the fourth.

Wemby's first bucket of the game came off a midrange jumper that rolled around and in!

Wemby's first three of the game was almost from the logo!

Triple threat! Wemby uses the pump fake and the jab step to get Rudy Gobert off balance and drains the middy!

Lob City Dimer! Wemby lobs it up for Jeremy Sochan who slams it home!

Wemby stuffing Gobert is like going to the gas station once a week, it's bound to happen.

Block this! Wemby takes Julius Randle to the paint and puts some extra arch into his shot so Gobert can't block it!

Wemby's third three of the night couldn't be more wide open!

Wemby's second block was on Gobert again!

Too tall! Wemby shoots a jumper near the free throw line over Jaden McDaniels for two!

So good he did it twice!

Wemby's fourth three was the first bucket of the fourth quarter!

Wemby floater from the free throw line!

AND ONE! Wemby and Chris Paul run the pick and roll and it results in a Wemby layup plus the foul!

TOUGH. Wemby shoots a tough midrange over Randle with around 2:30 left in the game!

JUST RIDICULOUS! Wemby makes this dunk look like your childhood hoop in the backyard! He slams over Anthony Edwards and McDaniels!

Harrison Barnes had an efficient 24 points on eight of nine shooting. He also grabbed five boards.

GET UP UNC! HB slams home the missed Wemby three!

Patience is key. HB nails the three at the top of the key after some vintage Spurs ball movement!

Keep up! HB drives past Divincenzo finishes at the rim!

Slow and steady! HB uses his patience driving to the rim and finishes over Randle!

Devin Vassell had a solid game with 22 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. This was a nice bounce back performance after the rough stretch he's been having.

Dev's first three of the game came off a CP3 theft!

TOUGH MIDDY! Dev shoots the contested midrange jumper over Mike Conley for two!

TOO MUCH SPACE! Dev knocks down the wide open three from the wing!

EURO AND-ONE! Dev puts the eurostep on Randle for the and-one finish!

CLUTCH. Dev takes Gobert off the dribble and drains a clutch fadeaway jumper!

Keldon Johnson dropped 13 points and six rebounds.

BIG BODY AND-ONE! KJ steamrolls his way to the cup and gets fouled by Josh Minott!

ANOTHER AND-ONE! This time, KJ creates space under the basket with the post-up. He then finishes over McDaniels and gets fouled!

Charles Bassey dropped four points and two rebounds in five minutes including this alley-oop slam provided by Stephon Castle!

This was a tough loss with some young mistakes mixed in again. Nonetheless, the Spurs showed fight in the third to comeback. Hopefully, Julian Champagnie and Steph Castle get more minutes next game. Also, late game execution will need to be at the forefront for future practices.

Finally, here are the full game highlights.

The Spurs take on the Los Angeles Clippers this Wednesday at 6:00 P.M. (CST) at the Frost Bank Center on FDSN-SW.