A Wembanyama from another planet dazzles at Christmas but does not avoid defeat

• JOSÉ LUIS MARTINEZ

Updated 12/25/2024 – 20:45CET

Victor Wembanyama debuted in a match at Christmasthe day in which the NBA monopolizes all the sports spotlights, and did not fail the millionaire audience by completing an anthological match on a legendary court like Madison Square Garden, but he couldn’t avoid the Spurs’ loss to the Knicks (117-114). The French giant signed 42 points (10/15 t2, 6/16 t3 and 4/4 tl), 18 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks and a steal in 40 minutes.

It was the third player who scores the most points in his debut in a game on Christmas Dayonly behind Wilt Chamberlain (45) and Tracy McGrady (43). An iconic day in which only four players have managed to reach 50 points in history: Luka Doncic, Bernard King, Wilt Chamberlain and Rick Barry. Wemby was eight points away from equaling them and his team fell to the Knicks catapulted by Michael Bridgesauthor of 41 points (11/16 t2, 6/9 t3 and 1/1 tl), third Knick to reach 40 points on Christmas Day, seconded by Karl-Anthony Towns (21+9) and Jalen Brunson (20+7+9).

Storming out of Wemby… and Bridges

Wemby led the Spurs in the first minutes of the game, providing the counterpoint to the rushing exit of Michael Bridgeswho supported the Knicks while the fear of the giant took its toll on Karl-Anthony Towns (15-16, min 8). The Frenchman and Chris Paul had just two minutes of rest to cancel out the New York team’s advantage with two triples from Wemby, who had 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks in the first quarter (28-27).

The giant and Paul They returned to the fray in the second act to relaunch their team (31-42), but as soon as they both sat down the Knicks got back into the game with a 9-2. Mitch Johnson had to return them to the field and the Spurs gave another attack with a brutal Wemby: 24 points (5/8 t2, 4/10 t3 and 2/2 tl), 11 rebounds, 4 assists and two blocks in 19 minutes at halftime (51-58). The Knicks (4/21) also lost the three-point battle with their rival (7/19).

Towns is motivated by the giant

At the restart, a motivated Towns defended Wembanyama better and pulled the car in attack with 11 points to put the Knicks ahead (66-64) against Spurs in which only Sochan gave the reply. But when the Spurs star couple sat down to rest (74-77), Brunson and Bridges fired their own (88-83).

At the beginning of the last act Wemby went into Terminator mode and with 11 points and his sixth triple he maintained the lead for the Spurs despite the three triples of a brutal Bridges (97-102 at 6:34 left). San Antonio resisted despite the triples of Bridges, Hart and McBride (112-111). But an unleashed Bridges tipped the balance for those from New York with two baskets in a row (117-111). A triple with 41 seconds left Paul the sign of the party did not change (117-114)