SAN ANTONIO (AP) – In a thrilling matchup on Saturday, Victor Wembanyama made a remarkable return to the court, scoring 32 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, dishing out eight assists, and blocking three shots. His stellar performance propelled the San Antonio Spurs to a 115-102 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.
The Hornets, who entered the game with momentum after winning two straight and eight of their last ten, saw Miles Bridges lead their scoring with 22 points, while Kon Knueppel contributed 20 points. Despite their efforts, Charlotte could not overcome the Spurs’ dominance.
With this victory, the Spurs have now won 17 of their last 19 games, solidifying their position as the second seed in the Western Conference. San Antonio, boasting a record of 49-18, is currently 7.5 games ahead of the third-place Houston Rockets (41-25) and just three games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder (52-15) for the top spot.
The Spurs concluded their longest homestand of the season with a commendable 5-1 record. Their only loss during this stretch came when Wembanyama was sidelined due to a sore right calf, resulting in a close 136-131 defeat against the Denver Nuggets, which snapped a five-game winning streak.
Wembanyama made an immediate impact, scoring 18 points, collecting eight rebounds, and recording two blocks and two steals in the first half alone. His athleticism was on full display as he recovered from a misplayed alley-oop pass to slam home a follow-up dunk, extending the Spurs’ lead to nine points early in the second quarter.
Finishing the game with an impressive shooting performance, Wembanyama went 13 for 24 from the field and connected on 5 of 10 attempts from beyond the arc. His recent form has been remarkable, shooting 46.9% on three-pointers over the last five games, hitting 23 of 49 attempts.
On the other side, LaMelo Ball also showcased his skills for the Hornets, finishing with 17 points, including a notable 27-foot three-pointer that briefly gave Charlotte a 13-10 lead in the first quarter. However, this would be the Hornets’ only lead of the game, as the Spurs quickly regained control.
Up Next
The Charlotte Hornets will look to bounce back as they host the Miami Heat on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs will head to Los Angeles to face the Clippers on Monday.
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