Victor Wembanyama Leads Spurs to Comeback Victory Over Warriors

 Victor Wembanyama Leads Spurs to Comeback Victory Over Warriors

SAN ANTONIO — After a three-game absence, Spurs star Victor Wembanyama showed some early rust but found his rhythm late, powering San Antonio to a 104-94 win over the Golden State Warriors. The victory marked the Spurs' second-largest comeback of the season, as they overcame a 17-point deficit to claim the win.

"I thought he was a grown man in the fourth quarter," said Spurs interim coach Mitch Johnson of Wembanyama’s performance.

The Spurs' victory came just three days after they rallied from 20 points down to defeat Utah. Saturday’s win marked the first time since 2017 that San Antonio had overcome 15-plus-point deficits in consecutive games.

Wembanyama, who had been sidelined since November 15 due to a bruised right knee, scored a game-high 25 points, adding 7 rebounds, 9 assists, and 3 blocks. In the fourth quarter, he scored 12 of those points, including a stretch where he scored seven straight, with a steal sandwiched in between, cutting a six-point deficit to one in just 1 minute and 40 seconds.

“I did find my rhythm physically,” Wembanyama said. “It was a little hard to come back in terms of conditioning in the first half. There’s a switch I’m trying to flip on demand—strong catches, quick moves, not holding the ball, but also taking my time, taking shots with confidence.”

After trailing by 17 with 1:55 left in the third quarter, the Spurs went on a 40-13 run to close out the game. Golden State suffered its largest blown lead of the season, while San Antonio finished the game with a dominant 13-2 fast-break points advantage.

Wembanyama’s ability to seize key moments in the game was evident to his coach and teammates alike. “He embraces moments for sure,” Johnson said. “I thought his fundamentals, especially late tonight, were elite. When he does that, it'll be scary to adjust to.”

Golden State’s Stephen Curry acknowledged the importance of maintaining momentum, noting, “It was a good learning lesson of capturing and maintaining momentum when you've done enough to separate yourself.”

Wembanyama's early performance was a bit rocky, hitting only 3 of his first 9 shots and struggling with ball handling. He began the game launching five 3-pointers without success, finally making his first 2-point field goal with 2:19 left in the first quarter. But as the game progressed, he found his confidence and continued to take shots without hesitation. "Stop shooting?" he joked. "Never."

Veteran point guard Chris Paul also praised Wembanyama's composure, saying, “Vic’s confidence never wavers, and it’s so dope to see. He knows the next one’s going in. Vic was huge, just being his first game back. The defense, the shots. The plays that he made tonight were all winning plays. He’s an alien. He’s just so unique.”

Wembanyama's performance also included his 13th consecutive game with multiple blocks, the longest streak by any player this season. His defensive presence was crucial in San Antonio's victory, and Golden State coach Steve Kerr was quick to acknowledge it, saying, "He was amazing, blocking shots, thwarting others, just being a presence in the paint. It was an impressive performance by him and by the whole team, defensively."

Saturday's victory helped the Spurs maintain momentum as they continue to push forward this season with Wembanyama back on the court.