Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs slam dunks the ball against Keita Bates-Diop #21 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on November 02, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP
PHOENIX — Rookie Victor Wembanyama scored a season-high 38 points, Zach Collins added 19 and the San Antonio Spurs held off Phoenix’s late charge to beat the Suns 132-121 on Thursday night.
The Suns erased a 27-point deficit, tying it at 116 with 4:21 left on Keita Bates-Diop’s 3-pointer, but the Spurs responded by scoring the next 12 points, including 10 from the precocious Wembanyama.
In just his fifth NBA game, Wembanyama produced a handful of highlight plays, including flying down the lane for a dunk in the second quarter. The 7-foot-4 Frenchman shot 15 of 26 from the field and had 10 rebounds.
But it was his poise down the stretch that might have been most impressive. The 19-year-old forward hit a 3-pointer, made three free throws, dunked and hit an 18-foot jumper during the decisive run.
A CAREER NIGHT FOR VICTOR WEMBANYAMA.
🔥 38 PTS (career-high)
💪 10 REB
🚫 2 BLKSpurs got the W in a THRILLER in Phoenix. pic.twitter.com/A5g7xMAXTI
— NBA (@NBA) November 3, 2023
Phoenix’s Devin Booker returned from a sprained ankle and nearly had a triple-double with 31 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds. But it wasn’t enough for the Suns, who had 14 turnovers. Kevin Durant had 28 points.
It was the second time in three days the Spurs beat the Suns in Phoenix. San Antonio shocked Phoenix 115-114 on Tuesday night, erasing a 20-point deficit and scoring the winning basket after Keldon Johnson stole the ball from Durant in the final seconds and made a contested layup with 1.2 seconds left.
On Thursday, it looked as if San Antonio would win in a blowout.
Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs drives the ball against Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on November 02, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Spurs defeated the Suns 132-121. Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP
The Spurs led 13-0 after the Suns missed their first five shots and never trailed. San Antonio pushed its advantage to 27 points midway through the second quarter, taking advantage of sloppy Phoenix play on both ends of the floor.
The Spurs led 75-55 at the break after Wembanyama hit back-to-back 3s late in the second quarter.
Booker made a 3-pointer that cut it to 14 points going into the fourth quarter. The Suns continued their methodical push throughout the fourth Bates-Diop’s dunk on an assist from Booker cut it to 111-108 with 6:04 left.
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Spurs: Host Toronto on Sunday.
Suns: At Philadelphia on Saturday.