Victor Wembanyama's 42 points propel Spurs to highlight-filled OT win over Hawks

12/20/2024 12:34 AM

The Spurs debuted their new starting lineup and had a fantastic performance from their star big on one of the most entertaining games of the season.

San Antonio's Thursday matchup with the Hawks was not for the faint of heart. After an entertaining opening two quarters and a chaotic second half, the Spurs prevailed in overtime 133-126 thanks to a fantastic performance by Victor Wembanyama and a Chris Paul dagger, but had to suffer to pull off the win.

Before the late-game madness, there was a reason to pay extra attention to this matchup. The Spurs finally got to debut the starting lineup many predicted would be their staple and it couldn't have gone much better. The main reason for the fantastic start was Victor Wembanyama's stellar play on both ends, but Wemby's performance was facilitated by a unit that had everyone playing at a high level. The threes were falling (except for Harrison Barnes') and the interior defense was tremendous from a San Antonio team that came out ready to play. As the benches checked in, the added depth that the Silver and Black has with everyone healthy was in full display. Mitch Johnson went with a 10-man rotation with Charles Bassey as his backup center and the second unit did well while Chris Paul and Wembanyama rested. Once the star big man returned, he picked up where he had left off, but the lead was somehow only seven after one.

Not taking advantage of a good first quarter to create serious separation came back to haunt the Spurs. The Hawks upped the intensity on defense and just like they did against the Timberwolves, the Silver and Black didn't match the physicality. The offense stagnated with the ball spending too much time in the perimeter and the turnovers piled up quickly after a crisp opening frame. The lead disappeared immediately and Atlanta was up one after just a minute of play. Larry Nance Jr. hit some outside shots, as Coach Quin Snyder realized he would be open with Wemby patrolling the paint, but the Spurs responded to that initial onslaught. Unfortunately, a second wave of aggression by the visitors came soon after, this time on the other end, with Trae Young torching the defense and finding Clint Capela open inside consistently. The visitors led by as many as 11 before a strong end of the half by San Antonio cut it to six.

The interior defense continued to be there for the Spurs after the break, as they bother shots whenever the Hawks tried to get close to the bucket. On the other end, they were playing with pace and hitting jumpers. San Antonio got back in it and then it became a game in which neither team could impose its will. A good stretch was followed by a bad one, sometimes individually but always collectively. Atlanta tried to run after misses and turnovers and when they could, they looked like they could pull away at any moment. Then the Silver and Black would move the ball, execute and hit some shots and they were the ones who seemed primed for a run. Playing a small lineup featuring Jeremy Sochan at center looked genius on some possessions and inexplicable on others. It was a confusing third frame that resulted in a close game and set the stage for a wild finish.

The fourth quarter and overtime were a collection of highlights. The Hawks' perimeter players dominated early, but Victor Wembanyama responded by getting close to the bucket. Atlanta upped the aggression again, denied passes to Wemby inside, and went on a run. Both teams hit big shots and made some bad mistakes. The Spurs had an opportunity to get up three on the final moments on a couple of Victor Wembanyama free throws, but he missed one and De'Andre Hunter dunked on him after the timeout to take the game to overtime, where the craziness would continue. Wembanyama took over the extra period, scoring eight of the team's 13 total points but the visitors stayed close. It took a dagger three-pointer from Chris Paul, who earlier had left the court with what seemed an arm injury, to finally seal the win and get the young Spurs above .500 once again after an extremely entertaining game against a solid opponent.

Play of the game

Someone could make a highlight reel for Victor Wembanyama with this game's footage alone, but we'll give Play of the Game to CP3 for the dagger.

Game notes

• The new starting lineup features the three core players the Spurs currently have. Victor Wembanyama, Jeremy Sochan and Devin Vassell all shined. Wemby finished with 42 points, six rebounds, five assists, two steals and four blocks. Sochan guarded Young well and had 20 efficient points, eight rebounds and four assists. Vassell, in his first start of the season, dropped 23 points on 16 shots. Everyone seemed happy during postgame interviews about having the three young guys and the two veterans additions starting, so it's probably going to continue to happen, which is a good thing. The Spurs need to figure out what they have.
• The veteran starters had very different games. Paul had bad moments but finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and the game-winner. Barnes missed all his threes and wasn't on the floor in the clutch and overtime. Barnes won't let a bad night affect him. He will be fine. So will Paul, who didn't injure his arm and asked to be subbed out as a precaution.
• Keldon Johnson got Barnes' minutes with the closing unit. He had a well-rounded stat line, finishing with 11 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals, and he had a few good defensive possessions. But Devin Vassell also mentioned that it was great to just have his energy around, so his impact might go beyond the numbers and any specific play. There might be veterans on the roster now, but Keldon is still a leader to his teammates.
• The two former starters, Julian Champagnie and Stephon Castle, didn't have standout games. Champagnie was better, offering his usual solid defense and making a couple of threes. Castle had a good stretch followed by a lot of mistakes, looking like the 20-year-old rookie that he is.
• Having everyone healthy gives the Spurs a strong rotation, but the backup center spot and to a lesser degree the backup point guard spot are still a concern. Tre Jones is clearly out of rhythm after his injuries. Charles Bassey makes plays and brings a level of energy and athleticism that Zach Collins can't bring, but he's still learning how to read the game as the defensive anchor. Those two didn't get a lot of minutes. If they can improve, Mitch Johnson will be able to go with a 10-man rotation of solid NBA players.
• No one should blame De'Andre Hunter for starting down the best rim protector in the world after dunking on him, but it was hilarious to see Wembanyama dominate after and Hunter disappear. Wemby said after the game that the situation motivated him, so in hindsight, it probably wasn't a good idea to taunt him.

• If the season ended today, the Spurs would be getting the 16th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft from the Hawks, from the Dejounte Murray trade. Hopefully Atlanta will slide down the standings and give San Antonio a lottery pick, but the East might be too weak for that to happen.

Next game: vs. Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday

The Spurs beat the Blazers on the road in the past week, but the game was closer than it probably should have been. It would be great to have a convincing win against them at home this time.