Victor Wembanyama's Spurs ended their series of seven straight home games with a defeat against Cleveland (101-117) last night.
A large and logical victory which clearly demonstrates the gap which separates the two teams, one last in the Western Conference, the other 4th in the East.
Victor Wembanyama displays a fairly balanced statistics sheet (19 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks).
A meeting that the Frenchman started perfectly.
He hits two three-point baskets in a row, although not really a specialty for him.
Then he serves Jeremy Sochan with a blind pass, before stealing a first ball.
After five minutes of play, he already had 6 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist.
What follows is more uneven but still beautifully crafted.
During the second quarter, he against Caris LeVert.
Also read “Both deserve it”: between Wembanyama and Holmgren, the race for the rookie title rages in the NBA
He then made an alley-oop on a pass from Devin Vassell and thanked him with a smile.
The day before, the defeat against New Orleans was sealed by a failed attempt by Vassell when he could have served the Frenchman near the circle.
This time, against Cleveland, Vassell ostensibly looked for his French teammate on several occasions.
The franchise's social networks relay almost every action between the two players.
Soothsayer ⬆️
Vic ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ZNESpJVhG2
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) February 4, 2024
There is clearly a San Antonio with and another without Victor Wembanyama.
At halftime, he only played 11 minutes, for 9 points and 8 rebounds, but with him on the floor his team posted a positive balance of +1. On the scoreboard, the Spurs are trailing by… 22 points.
The same observation is established at the end of the meeting: the team balance sheet of the Texan team is +10 with Wemby despite the heavy defeat...
Three weeks on the road ahead
The Spurs number 1 spent the end of the match on the bench, the score being decided.
He has just played 55 minutes in two days.
To make matters worse, he discovers, with a runny nose, Texas allergies.
“He played as many games this year as last season, and in half the time,” notes his coach Gregg Popovich.
It means a lot.
He's doing pretty well.
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Over the next three weeks, he and his team will make nine consecutive trips, during the traditional Rodeo Road Trip.
The Spurs will cross the United States from east to west, and cover 8,500 miles (more than 13,000 km).
During this time, the Texas franchise hall will be able to host the annual “San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo” meeting.
An event which will bring together horses, cowboys, and where the cameras will delight in the numerous falls of riders.
Falls, the Spurs room is used to it this season.