Wembanyama returns to score 24 points, lead Spurs over Wizards, 131-127
WASHINGTON (AP) Victor Wembanyama returned after sitting out a game to score 24 points and grab eight rebounds, leading the San Antonio Spurs to a 131-127 victory over the Washington Wizards on Saturday night.
Tre Jones added 11 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds for the Spurs, while Jeremy Sochan scored 23 points and Devin Vassell had 21 as the Spurs came back from a 12-point deficit in the final five minutes.
“Playing as a team again,” Wembanyama said of the difference down the stretch. “I think we were slow. I was very slow. My legs were heavy tonight. And getting some stops. We relaxed and I could feel the shift from all my teammates - me included - in the fourth quarter and fortunately, it worked. Everyone was involved.”
Wembanyama sat out for the sixth time this season against Charlotte on Friday night. The No. 1 overall pick sprained an ankle on Dec. 23 at Dallas, and the Spurs have been cautious with him. The reason for his absence was listed as “rest” on the injury report. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said it was “doctor’s orders.“
With a minutes restriction of 20-24 minutes, he’s not allowed to play back-to-backs, but the hope is he can soon. He played 28 minutes, including crucial moments down the stretch in the 12-point comeback win.
Wembanyama tied it at 121 on a 3-pointer with just over two minutes to play. It was part of a 22-6 run for the Spurs to end the game.
“He’s a great talent, obviously,” Wizards center Marvin Bagley III said. “The things he can do with the basketball, him being 7-4 or whatever he is, they just throw it up to him and he just creates.”
Bilal Coulibaly, Wembanyama’s teammate last season in France, came off the bench to score 14 points for the Wizards and Delon Wright had 16 .
“It was a fun time,” Coulibaly said of playing against Wembanyama. "Just happy for each other. We grew up together, playing together when we were like 12 and now we’re playing in the league. We just loved the moment and I just can’t wait to win that next game.”
Bagley led Washington with 21 points and 12 rebounds. It’s the second game he’s played in with Washington since he was traded from the Detroit Pistons.
“We had a good chance to win there in the fourth, up 12. We missed some shots, they went on a run, got it down, and ended up winning,” Bagley said. “It’s always tough when you compete like that and fight our way through the whole game and let it go. Let it loose at the end. It’s a hard pill to swallow, but I just have to learn from it. The good thing about the game is we have another one tomorrow. Another opportunity to come out and try and get a win.”
UP NEXT
Spurs: Visit Philadelphia on Monday night.
Wizards: Host Denver on Sunday night.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Victor Wembanyama vs. Marvin Bagley III (Julian Champagnie gains possession) | ||
| 11:47 |  | Devin Vassell offensive foul (Charge) (Marvin Bagley III draws the foul) | ||
| 11:47 | | Devin Vassell turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 11:23 | | +2 | Marvin Bagley III makes two point cutting layup (Tyus Jones assists) | 0-2 |
| 11:09 | | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point alley-oop layup (Tre Jones assists) | 2-2 |
| 11:03 | | Kyle Kuzma misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:03 | | Spurs defensive rebound | ||
| 10:48 | | Victor Wembanyama misses two point alley-oop layup | ||
| 10:44 | | Jeremy Sochan offensive rebound | ||
| 10:34 | | Jeremy Sochan misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:31 | | Kyle Kuzma defensive rebound | ||
| 10:22 | | +2 | Deni Avdija makes two point driving dunk (Tyus Jones assists) | 2-4 |
| 10:05 | | Victor Wembanyama misses two point hook shot | ||
| 10:04 | | Marvin Bagley III defensive rebound | ||
| 9:53 | | Marvin Bagley III misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:50 | | Julian Champagnie defensive rebound | ||
| 9:40 | | Jordan Poole blocks Jeremy Sochan's two point driving layup | ||
| 9:37 | | Kyle Kuzma defensive rebound | ||
| 9:34 | | Deni Avdija misses two point running finger roll layup | ||
| 9:31 | | Julian Champagnie defensive rebound | ||
| 9:29 | | +2 | Tre Jones makes two point running layup | 4-4 |
| 9:29 | | Kyle Kuzma defensive goaltending violation | ||
| 9:13 | | +2 | Marvin Bagley III makes two point driving layup | 4-6 |
| 8:56 | | +3 | Julian Champagnie makes three point jump shot (Victor Wembanyama assists) | 7-6 |
| 8:44 | | Marvin Bagley III misses two point cutting dunk | ||
| 8:41 | | Tre Jones defensive rebound | ||
| 8:38 | | +3 | Devin Vassell makes three point running jump shot (Tre Jones assists) | 10-6 |
| 8:14 | | +2 | Marvin Bagley III makes two point alley-oop layup (Kyle Kuzma assists) | 10-8 |
| 7:58 | | Victor Wembanyama misses two point alley-oop dunk | ||
| 7:56 | | Tyus Jones defensive rebound | ||
| 7:53 | | +2 | Deni Avdija makes two point running dunk (Tyus Jones assists) | 10-10 |
| 7:42 | | +3 | Devin Vassell makes three point jump shot (Tre Jones assists) | 13-10 |
| 7:28 | | Tyus Jones misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 7:26 | | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | ||
| 7:22 | | +2 | Jeremy Sochan makes two point running alley-oop dunk (Victor Wembanyama assists) | 15-10 |
| 7:22 | | Wizards 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:01 | | +2 | Tyus Jones makes two point driving floating jump shot | 15-12 |
| 6:45 | | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point cutting layup (Jeremy Sochan assists) | 17-12 |
| 6:30 | | Victor Wembanyama blocks Jordan Poole's two point driving layup | ||
| 6:26 | | Julian Champagnie defensive rebound | ||
| 6:26 | | +2 | Jeremy Sochan makes two point running layup | 19-12 |
| 6:26 | | Kyle Kuzma defensive goaltending violation | ||
| 6:14 | | +3 | Marvin Bagley III makes three point jump shot (Jordan Poole assists) | 19-15 |
| 6:00 | | Victor Wembanyama turnover (bad pass) (Tyus Jones steals) | ||
| 5:53 | | Jordan Poole misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 5:50 | | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | ||
| 5:46 | | Victor Wembanyama misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:45 | | Wizards defensive rebound | ||
| 5:35 | | +2 | Tyus Jones makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 19-17 |
| 5:24 | | +3 | Julian Champagnie makes three point jump shot (Tre Jones assists) | 22-17 |
| 5:18 | | Keldon Johnson personal foul (Jordan Poole draws the foul) | ||
| 5:15 | | +2 | Bilal Coulibaly makes two point cutting dunk (Kyle Kuzma assists) | 22-19 |
| 4:59 | | Tre Jones misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:56 | | Kyle Kuzma defensive rebound | ||
| 4:47 | | +2 | Kyle Kuzma makes two point turnaround hook shot | 22-21 |
| 4:35 | | +2 | Devin Vassell makes two point pullup jump shot (Zach Collins assists) | 24-21 |
| 4:25 | | Julian Champagnie shooting foul (Marvin Bagley III draws the foul) | ||
| 4:25 | | +1 | Marvin Bagley III makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 24-22 |
| 4:25 | | +1 | Marvin Bagley III makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 24-23 |
| 4:10 | | +2 | Zach Collins makes two point floating jump shot (Malaki Branham assists) | 26-23 |
| 3:57 | | +2 | Jordan Poole makes two point driving finger roll layup (Tyus Jones assists) | 26-25 |
| 3:49 | | Keldon Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Jordan Poole steals) | ||
| 3:46 | | Malaki Branham shooting foul (Tyus Jones draws the foul) | ||
| 3:46 | | +1 | Tyus Jones makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 26-26 |
| 3:46 | | +1 | Tyus Jones makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 26-27 |
| 3:32 | | Tyus Jones personal foul (Malaki Branham draws the foul) | ||
| 3:23 | | +2 | Zach Collins makes two point turnaround hook shot (Cedi Osman assists) | 28-27 |
| 3:06 | | Jordan Poole turnover (traveling) | ||
| 2:48 | | Zach Collins misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 2:44 | | Bilal Coulibaly defensive rebound | ||
| 2:36 | | Cedi Osman shooting foul (Patrick Baldwin Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 2:36 | | Spurs 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:36 | | Patrick Baldwin Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 2:36 | | Wizards offensive rebound | ||
| 2:36 | | +1 | Patrick Baldwin Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 28-28 |
| 2:18 | | Keldon Johnson misses two point cutting layup | ||
| 2:14 | | Keldon Johnson offensive rebound | ||
| 2:14 | | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point putback layup | 30-28 |
| 2:06 | | Zach Collins shooting foul (Delon Wright draws the foul) | ||
| 2:06 | | +1 | Delon Wright makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 30-29 |
| 2:06 | | +1 | Delon Wright makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 30-30 |
| 1:57 | | Blake Wesley turnover (bad pass) (Delon Wright steals) | ||
| 1:54 | | +2 | Delon Wright makes two point running reverse layup | 30-32 |
| 1:40 | | +3 | Cedi Osman makes three point jump shot (Blake Wesley assists) | 33-32 |
| 1:21 | | +2 | Jordan Poole makes two point driving bank hook shot (Delon Wright assists) | 33-34 |
| 1:09 | | Keldon Johnson misses two point driving bank hook shot | ||
| 1:03 | | Zach Collins offensive rebound | ||
| 1:03 | | Patrick Baldwin Jr. blocks Zach Collins's two point putback layup | ||
| 1:03 | | Patrick Baldwin Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 1:00 | | Corey Kispert misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 0:58 | | Cedi Osman defensive rebound | ||
| 0:54 | | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point driving layup (Cedi Osman assists) | 35-34 |
| 0:37 | | Corey Kispert turnover (lost ball) (Blake Wesley steals) | ||
| 0:34 | | +2 | Malaki Branham makes two point running layup (Blake Wesley assists) | 37-34 |
| 0:20 | | Jordan Poole misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 0:18 | | Malaki Branham defensive rebound | ||
| 0:04 | | Malaki Branham turnover (lost ball) (Jordan Poole steals) | ||
| 0:02 | | +2 | Jordan Poole makes two point running layup | 37-36 |
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:45 | | Keldon Johnson shooting foul (Corey Kispert draws the foul) | ||
| 11:45 | | +1 | Corey Kispert makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 37-37 |
| 11:45 | | +1 | Corey Kispert makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 37-38 |
| 11:45 | | +1 | Corey Kispert makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 37-39 |
| 11:30 | | Victor Wembanyama turnover (lost ball) (Marvin Bagley III steals) | ||
| 11:09 | | +2 | Delon Wright makes two point driving layup | 37-41 |
| 10:57 | | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point driving finger roll layup | 39-41 |
| 10:57 | | Marvin Bagley III shooting foul (Keldon Johnson draws the foul) | ||
| 10:57 | | Keldon Johnson misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | ||
| 10:55 | | Deni Avdija defensive rebound | ||
| 10:41 | | +2 | Landry Shamet makes two point pullup jump shot (Marvin Bagley III assists) | 39-43 |
| 10:26 | | Keldon Johnson misses two point driving layup | ||
| 10:23 | | Deni Avdija defensive rebound | ||
| 10:21 | | +3 | Corey Kispert makes three point running pullup jump shot (Landry Shamet assists) | 39-46 |
| 10:19 | | Spurs 60 second timeout | ||
| 10:07 | | Landry Shamet personal foul (Victor Wembanyama draws the foul) | ||
| 9:53 | | Julian Champagnie misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:51 | | Tre Jones offensive rebound | ||
| 9:49 | | +3 | Doug McDermott makes three point pullup bank jump shot (Cedi Osman assists) | 42-46 |
| 9:33 | | +3 | Landry Shamet makes three point jump shot (Delon Wright assists) | 42-49 |
| 9:23 | | +3 | Julian Champagnie makes three point jump shot (Tre Jones assists) | 45-49 |
| 8:56 | | Victor Wembanyama blocks Delon Wright's two point floating jump shot | ||
| 8:56 | | Wizards offensive rebound | ||
| 8:54 | | Marvin Bagley III misses two point jump shot | ||
| 8:52 | | Cedi Osman defensive rebound | ||
| 8:45 | | Julian Champagnie misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:43 | | Deni Avdija defensive rebound | ||
| 8:33 | | Julian Champagnie blocks Landry Shamet's two point driving dunk | ||
| 8:29 | | Julian Champagnie defensive rebound | ||
| 8:29 | | Corey Kispert personal foul (Victor Wembanyama draws the foul) | ||
| 8:26 | | Victor Wembanyama misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:24 | | Corey Kispert defensive rebound | ||
| 8:15 | | Landry Shamet misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:11 | | Landry Shamet offensive rebound | ||
| 8:09 | | Victor Wembanyama blocks Marvin Bagley III's two point layup | ||
| 8:06 | | Marvin Bagley III offensive rebound | ||
| 8:05 | | +2 | Marvin Bagley III makes two point jump shot | 45-51 |
| 7:57 | | Tre Jones misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 7:55 | | Delon Wright defensive rebound | ||
| 7:50 | | +2 | Deni Avdija makes two point running dunk (Delon Wright assists) | 45-53 |
| 7:50 | | Spurs 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:26 | | +2 | Jeremy Sochan makes two point driving hook shot (Tre Jones assists) | 47-53 |
| 7:05 | | +2 | Landry Shamet makes two point driving reverse layup (Deni Avdija assists) | 47-55 |
| 6:50 | | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point layup (Tre Jones assists) | 49-55 |
| 6:50 | | Landry Shamet shooting foul (Victor Wembanyama draws the foul) | ||
| 6:50 | | Victor Wembanyama misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | ||
| 6:48 | | Kyle Kuzma defensive rebound | ||
| 6:32 | | +2 | Kyle Kuzma makes two point turnaround jump shot (Marvin Bagley III assists) | 49-57 |
| 6:09 | | +2 | Jeremy Sochan makes two point alley-oop dunk (Victor Wembanyama assists) | 51-57 |
| 5:51 | | Marvin Bagley III turnover (offensive goaltending) | ||
| 5:38 | | Devin Vassell turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 5:23 | | Kyle Kuzma misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 5:21 | | Marvin Bagley III offensive rebound | ||
| 5:08 | | Julian Champagnie blocks Marvin Bagley III's two point driving hook shot | ||
| 5:08 | | Wizards offensive rebound | ||
| 5:08 | | Wizards turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 4:56 | | +2 | Blake Wesley |