Victor Wembanyama had a giant game last night in Philadelphia: 33 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks in just 28 minutes on the floor for one of the title favorites.
However, in front of him, another giant stood up and took everything in its path: Cameroonian Joël Embiid scored 70 points, his career record, giving the 76ers victory against the Spurs (133-123).
He becomes the 9th player in history to reach this milestone.
The duel of giants kept all its promises, and if the Philadelphia public, on its feet throughout the fourth quarter or almost, only had it for Embiid, Victor Wembanyama also took note and showed that he knew how to exist even against the biggest.
AN HISTORIC 70-POINT NIGHT FOR JOEL EMBIID 👏
✅ 76ers franchise record
✅ 9th player in NBA history to score 70+
✅ A new career high
70 PTS, 18 REB, 24/41 FGM, 21/23 FTM pic.twitter.com/ gDKY2E9bVA
— NBA (@NBA) January 23, 2024
Only 16 of Embiid's 70 points were scored against the Frenchman, compared to 23 on Zach Collins, who spent less time on the floor.
The physique of the Philadelphia player, reigning MVP (best player of the season), and especially his vice for provoking opposing fouls, however, troubled Wembanyama.
“It was inspiring to play against him, especially offensively,” said Wemby soberly after the match.
“He has a bright future ahead of him”
“It was Kobe Bryant who inspired me when I was younger, he was the one who made me want to play basketball,” Embiid replied a few minutes later at a press conference.
I hope that in a few years, when I have stopped defending on him, he too will break all these records, and maybe even Wilt's 100 points (Chamberlain, the record for points in a game).
He's great, he has a bright future ahead of him.
He has everything: size, qualities.
He will pose a lot of problems once his body adapts to the NBA.
»
Also read: Wembanyama seen by his personal physical trainer: “He doesn’t want to have limits”
Offensively, Victor Wembanyama wasn't bad either... Apart from Phoenix at the start of the season (38), he had never scored so many points in an NBA game.
“It would have been more fun if we had won,” regrets the Spurs number 1.
It's difficult to beat Joel Embiid's 2.13 m and especially 127 kg, especially when they allow him to score 70 points.
“It’s not that he plays that physical,” says Wembanyama about his one-night opponent.
But once he decides, it's very difficult to stop him.
» It must be believed that Embiid was very motivated against the Spurs, even though he had extended his nap into the afternoon, forcing him to shorten his usual warm-up...
The duel also began before the match even started: Embiid went behind Wemby's back, looked him up and down as if to fully appreciate the size of the Frenchman, before letting out a sigh of astonishment and to make the sign of the cross… “I thought I was big, but he’s something else!”
“, admires Embiid.
This was Embiid after seeing Wemby on court for the first time 🤣
Spurs-Sixers |
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— NBA (@NBA) January 23, 2024
Wemby begins his game by making two consecutive three-point baskets, with disconcerting ease.
He then followed up with an alley-oop on a pass from Vassell, but committed his first foul on the Cameroonian, soon followed by another, always the same: a fake shot into which he fell.
The Spurs rookie shakes his head, disappointed to have let himself be taken in by the vice of his much more experienced opponent.
On the floor despite 5 fouls
During the second quarter, he dribbled through the heart of the defense and went for a dunk.
Impressive !
He continues to collect points.
Already with three faults, his coach takes him out for a few minutes.
Wemby tries to come back into play on his own as he had already done in Memphis, but this time Gregg Popovich, a little incredulous, prevents him.
“It was difficult for him: Victor wanted to be on the floor because Joël was there too,” says the Texan coach.
But we still have to be careful about our playing time.”
33 points tonight for the Rookie!!
🌟#PorVida |
@Spurs |
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— Bally Sports San Antonio (@BallySportsSA) January 23, 2024
In the second half, he resisted the cunning of some of his opponents.
Kelly Oubre Jr taps him several times on the chest, Victor Wembanyama does not flinch.
The staff left him on the floor for a good part of the match even though he had already committed 5 faults, one fault away from being ejected from the match.
The sign of the trust that Gregg Popovich places in him.
Still limited in his number of minutes by the Spurs staff, he however finished the match on the bench, the score having already been decided.
Sitting perhaps, but once again giant.