After two convincing successes against Portland and Minnesota on Friday and Saturday, the Spurs have long believed in a third victory in a row for the first time this season, after being 14 points ahead during a game that they long controlled.
But, caught up in their clumsiness, they collapsed in the last five minutes and allowed Kyle Kuzma's Wizards (18 points) to emerge victorious from this poorly ranked duel (the Spurs are 15th and last in the West, the Wizards 14th in the East).
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Wembanyama (20 years old) scored 22 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, distributed 4 assists and delivered 3 blocks, but failed to make an impact at the end of the game.
“We didn't manage to play intelligently.
The bottom line is that we were immature.
We should be more sure of ourselves at this time of the season, for my part I must try to reduce my turnovers (...) I am disgusted, we inflicted it on ourselves (the defeat)”
, launched the Frenchman.
“Wemby”
found in the opposite camp his friend and former teammate at the Mets of Levallois Bilal Coulibaly, drafted in 7th position in June in the shadow of his compatriot, N.1 star.
With 13 points (5 out of 6 from the shoot, 2 out of 2 from distance), Coulibaly (19 years old) was efficient and even stole two balls from Wembanyama during the second quarter.
“They were smarter, they were more efficient.
It's a difficult defeat, it's the first time in a long time that we've looked so young, so immature, so candid.
It’s a big disappointment
,” commented bitterly coach Gregg Popovich.