Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs’ 20-year-old sensation, delivered a standout performance, scoring 50 points to lead his team to a 139-130 victory over the Washington Wizards. This incredible achievement makes Wembanyama the fourth-youngest player in NBA history to reach the 50-point milestone, joining the ranks of Brandon Jennings, LeBron James, and Devin Booker, who also accomplished the feat at 20.
Wembanyama, who was the first overall pick in last year’s draft, achieved his new career high in just 26 minutes on the court, knocking down eight three-pointers in the process. Reflecting on his game, Wembanyama noted, “Every time we struggle to warm up, we have pain, you know, we sweat, we bleed on the court, so it’s really a minute-to-minute thing.”
The Spurs were without head coach Gregg Popovich, who recently suffered a mild stroke, though he is expected to make a full recovery. Despite the absence of their legendary coach, the Spurs executed a powerful 23-6 run to close the third quarter, taking a 108-91 lead that proved crucial down the stretch. Devin Vassell added 17 points for San Antonio, with Julian Champagnie scoring 12, and Harrison Barnes, Stephon Castle, and Blake Wesley contributing 10 points each.
Elsewhere in the NBA, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo posted a season-high 59 points, propelling the Bucks to a 127-120 overtime win against the Detroit Pistons. This marked Antetokounmpo’s ninth 50-plus point game and his second-best performance after his career-high 64 points last season.
The Cleveland Cavaliers continued their impressive season start, winning their 13th consecutive game with a 114-106 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, making them only the sixth team in NBA history to start a season 13-0.
In Los Angeles, LeBron James recorded his third consecutive triple-double, helping the Lakers secure a 128-123 win over the Memphis Grizzlies and maintain their unbeaten home record. James tallied 35 points, 14 assists, and 12 rebounds, while Anthony Davis contributed 21 points and 14 rebounds.
Wembanyama’s extraordinary night underscores the young star’s rapidly rising stature in the NBA and highlights the Spurs’ potential with their new standout talent leading the charge.