Victor Wembanyama couldn’t yet pop the champagne this New Year’s Eve. The French interior, almost 21 years old (he will be on January 4), still a minor in the United States and therefore not allowed to drink alcohol, nevertheless endeavored to make a point of honor for his year 2024, with a last victory easily acquired against the Clippers (122-86). He indeed contributed greatly, with his 27 points on 10/18 shots, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocks in 26 minutes.
Rookie of the year, silver medalist at the Olympic Games with the French team and 4th youngest player to reach the 50-point mark in the NBA against the Wizards, on November 13… This year, the native of Chesnay (Yvelines ) continued the feats at a breakneck pace. “My expectations for 2025? Happiness, above all, health. And the playoffs! »he adds with a broad smile, after the 17th victory in 33 games for the Spurs, thus consolidating their place in the Top 10 of the Western Conference, synonymous with “play-in”.
17 points in 7 minutes from Victor Wembanyama to start
Against his compatriot Nicolas Batum (whom he beat for the first time in the NBA) and his teammates, the MVP of the 2022/23 French championship wanted to emphasize that his team “learned a lot from the last road trip”concluded with a third defeat in four games at the Wolves on Sunday. “This match shows that we have improved because we managed to target key players well”he continues, mentioning the defensive work of Jeremy Sochan, who was injured (foot) in the second quarter.
Coast-to-coast against Nicolas Batum at the start of the game, alley-oop on the board with Chris Paul a little later, step-back and fadeaway galore… “King Victor” – as some supporters call him – is strolling in the Californian snowshoe. From the first quarter to his exit eight minutes from the end of the match (99-67), the audience at the Frost Bank Center regularly launched chants of “MVP!” MVP! », as is now the Texan tradition as soon as the French Alien carries out big actions.
It was he who showed the way to his teammates from the start of the match by scoring 17 points in just 7 minutes, as many as the Clippers, already well behind (31-17), after the first period. “We managed to adapt to their game from the first second”notes the best defender in the West for the month of October/November.
The Clippers were never in it
What’s next? The Clippers, back-to-back in Texas after their victory against the Pelicans (116-113), were never inspired in attack (34.5% success) and did not, either, manage to stop the collective of the Spurs on the other side of the field (37 passes, 17 for the Clippers).
Without energy (and without desire?), Tyronn Lue’s men let slip a match that they never knew how to take the right way. “We played two minutes”plague Nicolas Batum, in the Californian locker room. -14 after twelve minutes, -20 at halftime, -28 after three quarters and -36, in the end… James Harden’s Clippers (17 points) had a difficult New Year’s Eve in South Texas …
WHAT TO REMEMBER
— Clumsiness at 3-points. In a disjointed meeting that sometimes looked like an All-Star Game, the Texans finished just 9/40 behind the arc (22.5%), compared to 11/41 for the Californians (26.8%).
— Mitch Johnson spun. While the Spurs were up to 41 points ahead in money time, the Texan training took the opportunity to bring in the fifteen players registered on the match sheet. Sidy Cissoko (5 minutes, 2 points) notably stood out on an alley-oop with Charles Bassey at the end of the match.
| San Antonio / 122 | Shots | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | O | D | T | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | +/- | Pts | Eval |
| LA Clippers / 86 | Shots | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | O | D | T | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | +/- | Pts | Eval |
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
From our correspondent in San Antonio (United States).
2025-01-01 22:05:00