Wemby flips switch in 4th, rallies Spurs in return

SAN ANTONIO — Fresh off a three-game layoff, Spurs star Victor Wembanyama exhibited rust early, only to catch a groove late in pushing San Antonio to its second-largest comeback win of the season, a 104-94 triumph over Golden State.

“I thought he was a grown man in the fourth quarter,” Spurs interim coach Mitch Johnson said of Wembanyama.

Three days after rallying from 20 down to defeat Utah, the Spurs bounced back Saturday from a 17-point deficit to shock the Warriors, who were playing the second night of a back-to-back set. San Antonio’s performance marked the first time since 2017 it overcame 15-plus point deficits in consecutive contests.

“I did find my rhythm physically,” Wembanyama said. “It was a little hard to come back in terms of conditioning in the first half. There’s a switch I’m trying to flip on demand. Strong catches, quick moves, not holding the ball, but also taking my time, taking shots with confidence, good feet and good preparation for the shot.”

Wembanyama scored a game-high 25 points with seven rebounds, nine assists and three blocks.

One of those blocks kickstarted a fourth-quarter stretch in which Wembanyama scored seven-straight points — with a steal sandwiched in between – as San Antonio chopped a six-point deficit to one over a span of one minute and 40 seconds. The Spurs trailed by 17 points with 1:55 remaining in the third quarter, before embarking on a 40-13 run to close the contest.

Golden State suffered its largest blown lead of the season.

“It was a good learning lesson of capturing and maintaining momentum when you’ve done enough to separate yourself,” Warriors guard Stephen Curry said.

Wembanyama racked up nearly half his total scoring output (12 points) in the fourth quarter, adding five assists and two blocks to lead a Spurs squad that finished the game outscoring the Warriors 13-2 in fast break points.

“He embraces moments for sure,” Johnson said. “I thought his fundamentals, especially late tonight, were elite. When he does that, it’ll be scary to adjust to.”

Golden State now knows firsthand. Wembanyama started the contest hitting 3-of-9 for nine points with two turnovers. The 20-year old hoisted 3-pointers on his first five attempts of the night and didn’t connect on a two-point field goal until 2:19 remained in the first quarter.

“Vic’s confidence never wavers, and it’s so dope to see,” veteran point guard Chris Paul said. “He’s confident. He knows the next one’s going in. Vic was huge, just being his first game back. The defense, the shots. The plays that he made tonight were all winning plays. He’s an alien. He’s just so unique.”

By intermission, Wembanyama had already taken six 3-pointers with just two makes. He took fewer shots in the third quarter, connecting on 2-of-3 attempts.

“Stop shooting?” Wembanyama jokingly asked. “Never.”

The Frenchman’s fearless approach paid dividends in a fourth quarter that San Antonio entered trailing by 10 points. Wembanyama has put together eight 20-point outings this season in 14 appearances.

Saturday night marked Wembanyama’s first live action since Nov. 15, when he suffered a bruised right knee that sidelined him for three contests. The Spurs managed to reel off back-to-back wins over Oklahoma City and Utah after falling to Dallas on Nov. 16 in Wembanyama’s first game out of the lineup. Wembanyama watched from the bench in street clothes Thursday as San Antonio overcame an 18-point deficit to defeat the Jazz behind a 25-point, 10-rebound outing from veteran Harrison Barnes.

Against the Warriors, Wembanyama produced his 13th consecutive game with multiple blocks, the longest streak by any player this season.

“He was amazing, blocking shots, thwarting others, just being a presence in the paint,” Golden State coach Steve Kerr said of Wembanyama. “It was an impressive performance by him and by the whole team, defensively.”