Victor Wembanyama’s 42 points help the Spurs to a brilliant OT victory over the Hawks

Thursday’s match between San Antonio and the Hawks was not for the faint of heart. After an entertaining first two quarters and a chaotic second half, the Spurs prevailed 133-126 in overtime thanks to a fantastic performance from Victor Wembanyama and a dagger from Chris Paul, but had to go through a lot to get the win.

Before the late-game madness, there was a reason to pay special attention to this matchup. Spurs finally got to debut the starting lineup that many had predicted would become their starters, and it couldn’t have gone much better. The main reason for the fantastic start was Victor Wembynyama’s outstanding play on both sides, but Wemby’s performance was made possible by a unit where everyone played at a high level. The threes were falling (with the exception of Harrison Barnes) and the interior defense of a ready-to-play San Antonio team was tremendous. As the benches checked in, the added depth that the Silver and Black have with all the healthy players was clearly visible. Mitch Johnson played a 10-man rotation with Charles Bassey as the backup center and the second unit performed well while Chris Paul and Wembanyama rested. When the big star returned, he picked up where he left off, but the lead was somehow only seven past one.

The Spurs had failed to use a good first quarter to create any serious separation. The Hawks increased the intensity on defense and just like against the Timberwolves, the Silver and Black couldn’t keep up with the physicality. The offense stagnated, the ball spent too much time in the field and the ball losses quickly increased after a crisp opening period. The lead disappeared immediately and Atlanta was ahead by one after just one minute of play. Larry Nance Jr. hit a few outside throws as coach Quin Snyder realized he would be open with Wemby patrolling the field, but the Spurs responded to that initial attack. Unfortunately, a second wave of aggression from the visitors soon followed, this time at the other end, as Trae Young torched the defense and Clint Capela found open spaces throughout. The visitors had a lead of as many as 11 before San Antonio cut the lead to six with a strong end to the half.

The interior defense continued to be there for the Spurs after the break, disrupting shots whenever the Hawks tried to get close to the basket. On the other hand, they played with speed and hit jumps. San Antonio got back into the game and then it became a game in which neither team could impose their will. A good stretch was followed by a bad one, sometimes individually but always collectively. Atlanta tried to chase missed shots and turnovers, and when they did, it looked like they could pull away at any moment. Then Silver and Black moved the ball, took some shots and hit them, and they were the ones who seemed primed for a run. Playing in a small lineup with Jeremy Sochan in the middle seemed brilliant on some possessions and inexplicable on others. It was a confusing third frame that resulted in a close game and set the stage for a wild finish.

The fourth quarter and overtime were a series of highlights. The Hawks’ perimeter players dominated early, but Victor Wembanyama responded by moving closer to the basket. Atlanta increased their aggression again, denying Wemby’s inside passes and running. Both teams had big shots and made some bad mistakes. The Spurs had a chance to score three in the final moments through a pair of free throws from Victor Wembanyama, but he missed one and De’Andre Hunter dunked on him after the timeout to send the game into overtime, where the madness continues would. Wembanyama took over in extra time and scored eight of the team’s 13 points, but the visitors stayed close. It took a sharp three-pointer from Chris Paul, who had apparently left the field with an arm injury, to finally seal the victory and put the young Spurs back over the .500 mark after a very entertaining game against a strong opponent bring to.

Game play

Someone could make a highlight reel for Victor Wembanyam using footage from this game alone, but for the Dagger we give Play of the Game to CP3.

Game notes

• The new starting lineup consists of the three core players the Spurs currently have. Victor Wembanyama, Jeremy Sochan and Devin Vassell all shined. Wemby finished the game with 42 points, six rebounds, five assists, two steals and four blocks. Sochan defended Young well and scored an efficient 20 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Vassell dropped 23 points on 16 shots in his first start of the season. In post-match interviews everyone seemed happy to have the three young players and the two experienced newcomers in the starting XI, so it will probably continue, which is a good thing. Spurs need to figure out what they have.
• The experienced starters had very different games. Paul had bad moments, but finished the game with 12 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and the game-winner. Barnes missed all of his threes and was off the floor in the clutch and overtime. Barnes doesn’t let a bad night affect him. He’ll be fine. This also applies to Paul, who did not injure his arm and asked to be substituted as a precaution.
• Keldon Johnson secured Barnes’ minutes with the final unit. He had balanced stats, finishing with 11 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals, and he had some good defensive possessions. But Devin Vassell also mentioned that it was great to just have his energy available so his impact could go beyond the numbers and a specific play. There are now veterans on the roster, but Keldon is still a leader for his teammates.
• The two former starters, Julian Champagnie and Stephon Castle, did not have outstanding games. Champagnie was better, offering his usual solid defense and making a few three-pointers. Castle had a good stretch followed by lots of mistakes, looking like the 20-year-old rookie he is.
• When everyone is healthy, the Spurs have a strong rotation, but the backup center spot and, to a lesser extent, the backup point guard spot are still an issue. Tre Jones is clearly out of rhythm after his injuries. Charles Bassey makes plays and brings a level of energy and athleticism that Zach Collins can’t, but he’s still learning to read the game as a defensive anchor. These two didn’t get many minutes. If they can improve, Mitch Johnson will be able to field a 10-man rotation of solid NBA players.
• No one should blame De’Andre Hunter for letting the best rim protector in the world go at him after the dunk, but it was hilarious to see Wembanyama dominate afterward and Hunter disappear. Wemby said after the game that the situation had motivated him, so in hindsight it probably wasn’t a good idea to mock him.

• If the season ended today, the Spurs would receive the 16th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft from the Hawks, from the Dejounte Murray trade. Hopefully Atlanta slips in the standings and gives San Antonio a lottery pick, but the East might be too weak for that.

Next game: against Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday

The Spurs beat the Blazers on the road last week, but the game was closer than it probably should have been. It would be great to get a convincing win against them at home this time.