Wembanyama scores 40 as Spurs beat Suns 122-96 for ninth straight win

Wembanyama drives the ninth straight Spurs win

San Antonio beat the Phoenix Suns 122-96 on Monday, 9 November, extending its winning streak to nine games and lifting its record to 9-2, according to the Associated Press. Victor Wembanyama led the way with 40 points, 11 rebounds and nine blocks in only 25 minutes on the floor. The 22-year-old French center made 15 of his 19 shots, scoring 14 points in the first quarter and 22 by halftime, and he left the game with nine minutes to play. Dylan Harper added 17 points, 14 of them in the third quarter.

The New York Times gave a different block total for the same game, counting eight blocks and three assists, so the figures vary by outlet.

A second 40-point game in five days

Five days earlier, Wembanyama set career highs with 52 points and 24 rebounds in a win over the Dallas Mavericks, AP reported. The Monday performance was his second game with at least 40 points and 10 rebounds in a week. The New York Times, citing Stathead data, said it was his third game with 40 points and 10 rebounds in under 26 minutes of play. Among NBA players, only Patrick Ewing, in a game on 13 April 1988, has matched that line even once, the paper said.

After the game, Wembanyama described the feeling in simple terms.

“It feels like where I want to be.”

Suns defence cannot contain him

Phoenix coach Jordan Ott had a defensive plan for Wembanyama before the game, and it did not work. Devin Booker led the Suns with a team-high 32 points, but that was not enough to match the Spurs centre. Ott described how the Spurs' big man was hurting Phoenix.

“He just does it from all three levels right now.”

Booker gave his own assessment of Wembanyama's instincts.

“It's something like we've never seen before.”

AP noted that Wembanyama also crossed over Khaman Maluach in the fourth quarter before gliding past him for a layup, one of several moments in the game the agency counted as more impressive than the rest of his night.

Other Monday results

The Los Angeles Lakers beat Atlanta 124-114 for their 10th win of the season and their sixth straight, with Luka Doncic posting 32 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds, according to ANSA and La Libre. Golden State beat New Orleans 138-87 for its eighth straight win, with Stephen Curry and Brandin Podziemski each scoring 25 points. Dallas beat Indiana 125-122, led by Cooper Flagg with 43 points and Kyrie Irving with 35. Detroit beat Washington 122-111 despite 44 points from Anthony Davis, as John Collins scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Pistons, while Daniss Jenkins and Duncan Robinson added 22 points each.

Charlotte beat Cleveland 121-112, with Tidjane Salaun scoring 14 points in 18 minutes. Memphis beat Toronto 118-102 behind Ty Jerome's 27 points and Cam Boozer's 22. Houston beat Denver 110-100, with Kevin Durant scoring 23.

Anthony Davis (Wizards)44

Cooper Flagg (Mavericks)43

Victor Wembanyama (Spurs)40

Luka Doncic (Lakers)32

Devin Booker (Suns)32

Anthony Davis (Wizards)

44 points

Cooper Flagg (Mavericks)

43 points

Victor Wembanyama (Spurs)

40 points

Luka Doncic (Lakers)

32 points

Devin Booker (Suns)

32 points

Data from the article text