Victor Wembanyama dominated, fueling Spurs' victory with points, rebounds, and crucial defensive plays while orchestrating the offense with eight assists.
The San Antonio Spurs are not seeking the title of “NBA’s hottest team,” a distinction lost on Thursday with a defeat at the hands of the pedigreed Denver Nuggets.
No, being the “NBA’s best team” is the goal - and one some predicted might be obstructed by their matinee meeting at home against sizzling Charlotte Hornets.
The Spurs came into Saturday having won 16 of their last 18, while the Hornets were 8-2 in their last 10 tip-offs.
So in terms of “hotness,” something had to give.
And it was MVP candidate Victor Wembanyama who did the giving … and the taking.
The Spurs recorded a 115-102 win here while being driven by the French superstar Wemby, who sat out San Antonio’s last game due to an ankle injury.
He was officially listed as “questionable” against Charlotte. … but he was anything but as he gave his Spurs 32 points and 15 rebounds while taking away Hornets scoring opportunities with three blocks.
Oh, and the 7-6 center also offered up a bundle of eight assists, including one on a crazy late-third-quarter underhanded alley-oop to a dunking Luke Kornet.
The wind boosts San Antonio‘s record to 49-18 as the Spurs remain perched in the top two spots in the NBA Western Conference’s playoff chase.
Charlotte dropped to .500 at 34-34.
Wembanyama played just minutes here, so obviously, he had help as five Spurs scored in double figures.
The Hornets countered with the efforts of Rookie of the Year candidate Kon Knueppel, who scored 20 points.