How often, Victor Wembanyama clenched his fists very tightly to celebrate a victory, only the 16th this season for his team, narrowly won last night against the Phoenix Suns (104-102).
But this time, Wemby was in civilian clothes, khaki jacket on his shoulders and black pants around his waist, missing due to a painful ankle.
At the final whistle, the whole team rushed towards Jeremy Sochan, author of a decisive three-point shot in the last minute which turned the game into an irrational situation.
The Pole had so far missed… his first six long-distance attempts.
Jeremey Sochan came up CLUTCH for the @spurs dub!
🎯 pic.twitter.com/t4NrQISJRg
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 26, 2024
Swept out two days earlier by the same Suns team (106-131), the Spurs found the resources, without their French rookie who is breaking new records week after week, to gain the upper hand over one of the teams fighting for a direct qualification to the final stages.
How is this possible?
How could a moribund team deprived of its best player be able to overthrow one of the title favorites?
Also read: Spurs boss crazy about Wembanyama: “What the NBA is experiencing with Victor, no one has ever seen it before”
“We were deprived of one of our key pieces and we knew it was going to be difficult, so we played physical, hard,” says Jeremy Sochan.
We wanted to give our best, and go for the match instead of waiting for it to fall on us.
» Enough to perhaps give regret to the Spurs, who have not always played with the same aggressiveness this season, symbolized by the 10 interceptions of the evening, sometimes at key moments.
“We thought that without Wemby it was going to be easy…”
This is the second time this season that San Antonio has won while its number 1 is absent.
Victor Wembanyama had already missed the trip to San Francisco to face Golden State earlier in the month and without him his teammates had returned with a victory in their bags (126-113).
“We thought that without Wemby it was going to be easy,” admitted Suns player Bradley Beal.
We got our butts kicked.
They entered the game very aggressively, and we didn't react.
» A few days ago, when asked about what had surprised him the most this season, Victor Wembanyama had in fact admitted that not one opponent this season had made his task easy…
tfw you take 3 of 4 from the @Suns this season!
#PorVida pic.twitter.com/uIYSUf5Epm
— Bally Sports San Antonio (@BallySportsSA) March 26, 2024
Among the other Spurs to shine, Devin Vassell scored 26 points and Zach Collins, Wembanyama's replacement, 18. Keldon Johnson was decisive coming off the bench (14 points including 2/2 3 points).
The Spurs were not necessarily much more efficient than usual (44%, including 25% at three points), but they lost fewer balls (only 7) and their fierce desire to seek this success made the difference.
Next meeting, Wednesday at the Utah Jazz.
A meeting for which doubt still hangs over the participation of Victor Wembanyama.
“There is a little more than a 50% chance that he will be back for this match,” announced his coach Gregg Popovich.
It's a short-term injury, as often happens in a match.
»