NEW YORK – Victor Wembanyama had 19 points, seven rebounds and six blocks, Jeremy Sochan had 12 points and 14 rebounds and the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Brooklyn Nets 96-87 on Friday night.
Julian Champagnie scored 18 points and Keldon Johnson had 15 points and six rebounds to help the Spurs end a two-game losing streak.
Keon Johnson scored a game-high 25 points and Shake Milton added 16 points and 12 assists for Brooklyn, which was out for the ninth time in its last 12 games.
San Antonio: After an abysmal first-half shooting performance in which they shot just 27.5% from the field, the Spurs turned up the heat in the second half with 21 of 37 field goals (56.7%).
Brooklyn: The Nets played for the second straight game without leading scorer Cam Johnson (hip contusion) and assist leader Ben Simmons (lower back pain). They struggled to generate offense, shooting just a season-low 38.9% from the field for points.
After a quiet first half with four points, Wembanyama came to life in the third quarter, scoring 11 points and knocking down three 3-pointers during the Spurs’ 22-9 run that turned a two-point deficit into a 69-58 lead transformed.
The Spurs survived a brief scare in the third quarter when Wembanyama went to the locker room with 4:43 left after intercepting Jalen Wilson’s accidental headbutt. San Antonio outscored Brooklyn 12-8 in the third quarter with Wembanyama out of the game and 33-21 overall.
Wembanyama had at least four blocks in his fifth straight game. He also recorded at least one three-pointer and at least one block for the 22nd straight game.
San Antonio: in Minnesota on Sunday.
Brooklyn: in Orlando on Sunday.
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