Victor Wembanyama Shines as San Antonio Spurs Handle Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors in Preseason Finale
With the offseason now officially behind him, Victor Wembanyama doesn't have much more to prove before he begins his first regular season in the NBA.
The San Antonio Spurs and their rookie sensation clashed with the Golden State Warriors in the preseason finale for both teams at Chase Center on Friday night, though the star power present made it feel like the regular season. But even with future Hall of Famers Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Chris Paul all logging significant minutes, it was the youthful Spurs who led for nearly the entire night en route to a 122-117 preseason win over the Warriors.
Golden State, which trailed by as many as 18 in the second half, used its second unit to get back into game and cut the deficit to four, but the Spurs didn't waver and held on for the win.
Wembanyama led all players with 19 points on 8 of 19 shooting to go along with four rebounds and five blocks. While he led all scorers at halftime with 15 points, it was blocks against Curry, Thompson and former No. 1 overall Andrew Wiggins that served as the highlight of the first half.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) shakes hands with Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) before the game at Chase Center.
© Kyle Terada, USA TODAY
The Spurs also got double-digit scoring efforts from Keldon Johnson (12 points), Devin Vassell (13), Zach Collins (13) and Malaki Branham (11).
Curry (11 points), Thompson (nine points) and Paul (five points, five assists) played into the third quarter but struggled from the field. Instead, the Warriors fought back behind impressive efforts off the bench from Jonathan Kuminga (13 points), Dario Saric (17 points) and a team-high 18 points from Moses Moody.
But despite the home crowd at Chase Center getting rowdy as the Warriors got back into the game, the Spurs bench weathered the second-half storm to secure a win that's as impressive as they come in the preseason.
The Spurs will now look ahead to their regular-season opener on Wednesday at home against the Dallas Mavericks.
