Victor Wembanyama made a historic defensive stand on Monday evening to kick off the Western Conference semifinals.
But remarkably, it wasn’t sufficient to lead the San Antonio Spurs to an early win.
The (*1*) surged forward in the ultimate minutes on Monday evening on the Frost Bank Center to seize a 104-102 win over the Spurs in Game 1 of their second-round playoff sequence. It marked star Anthony Edwards’ first sport again after he went down with a bone bruise 9 days in the past.
Advertisement
Wembanyama broke the NBA’s postseason single-game blocks record in the competition, and was an unbelievable power inside. He had 12 blocks in the loss, which surpassed a mark that had solely been reached three different occasions in league historical past.
Wembanyama matched the outdated record simply three quarters into the sport, too. He then got here up with an eleventh block to interrupt the record minutes into the fourth quarter, stuffing Anthony Edwards on the rim.
Andrew Bynum, with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2012, was the final participant to record double-digit blocks in a playoff sport. Hakeem Olajuwon and Mark Eaton are the opposite two.
Though now, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year stands alone atop that listing. And it was solely the sixth playoff sport of his profession.
Advertisement
But even with that, the Spurs now sit in a 1-0 gap.
Wembanyama matches blocks record by means of 3 quarters
Edwards performed on a minutes restriction and got here off the bench on Monday, but he appeared like his outdated self.
After a fast foul immediately, he instantly made an influence. Edwards helped spark a giant 12-2 burst to maintain the Timberwolves out in entrance simply barely in the opening quarter, which included burying an enormous 3-pointer after which instantly letting the Spurs bench find out about it.
But the Spurs by no means went away, and the 2 groups went into halftime tied up wanting very degree. Wembanyama had seven blocks on the break, too. Two of these got here on the Timberwolves’ first two offensive possessions of the sport, and two extra got here when he blocked Julius Randle consecutively down low to power a shot clock violation halfway by means of the second quarter.
Advertisement
Though Wembanyama shined defensively, he had simply six factors and went 0-of-5 from the 3-point line in the primary 24 minutes.
Wembanyama opened the second half with a fast left-handed dunk proper by means of Rudy Gobert, but each groups saved going backwards and forwards the whole third quarter. The Spurs solely took a three-point lead into the ultimate interval after a wild buzzer-beater floater from Keldon Johnson.
At that time, Wembanyama had matched the league’s single-game playoff block record. That was additionally probably the most in Spurs’ franchise historical past.
Then simply minutes into the fourth quarter, Wembanyama blocked Edwards on the rim for his eleventh block to set the record. That arrange a layup from De’Aaron Fox on the opposite finish, too, which put the Spurs up by three on the time.
Advertisement
But that block sparked one thing in the Timberwolves. They rattled off a 14-2 burst, capped by a Mike Conley 3-pointer from the nook, to immediately seize a nine-point lead — their largest of the sport up till that time. The Spurs, and Wembanyama, appeared flustered.
Julian Champagnie had a great take a look at a game-winner, but he was simply off the mark. The Timberwolves, even with a Wembanyama that was practically unattainable to get round, escaped with the two-point win.
Randle led Minnesota with 21 factors and 10 rebounds. Edwards, who ended up taking part in 25 minutes, had 18 factors off the bench and shot 8-of-13 from the sector.
Advertisement
(*12*) led the Spurs with 18 factors off the bench, although he was one in every of seven gamers to hit double figures in the loss. Wembanyama had 11 factors and 15 rebounds to go with his 12 blocks. He went simply 0-of-8 from behind the arc, although, and made solely 5 discipline objectives on the evening.
Wembanyama was nonetheless a number of behind the all-time single-game blocks record. Elmore Smith had 17 with the Lakers again in 1973, which was the primary season that blocks had been absolutely recorded. Manute Bol and Shaquille O’Neal have every recorded 15 blocks in a sport, too.
Game 2 of the sequence is about for Wednesday evening in San Antonio.