2023-11-25 08:07:23
Wembanyama’s Spurs had the merit of giving themselves a chance. THEARON W. HENDERSON / AFP
San Antonio gave itself the right to hope at the end of the game last night, on the Warriors floor. 22 points to the credit of Frenchman Victor Wembanyama.
San Antonio, still not. But it’s not all negative to remember. Trailing by 18 points in the second half, and 15 in the last quarter, the Spurs, clumsy from afar (12/47), pushed the Warriors of Stephen Curry (35 pts, 7/13 to 3 pts) and Dario Saric (20 pts, 7/11 on shots) in their corners last night, at the Chase Center in San Francisco. They finally gave in (118-112), suffering their 11th defeat in a row in this match counting for the mid-season tournament. Three players with 20 points or more in the Texan ranks, including Devin Vassell (24), Keldon Johnson (22) and Victor Wembanyama, author of 22 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 interception and 2 blocks, skillful in throwing ( 5/5) but much less at long distance (1/6), with 6 ball losses in 35 minutes of play.
Aggression, dissuasion, provoked fouls… “Wemby” got off to a flying start, like his team. His three points allowed San Antonio to complete at 11-0 (4-0, then 4-11). Multiplying ball losses, long-range failures and unsteady rebounds, the Warriors were upside down (9-19). The “Splash brothers” – Curry and Klay Thompson (15 pts at 3/11) – finally woke up and the two teams went blow for blow (32-35 at the end of the 1st QT). San Antonio took off again under the leadership of Vassell (37-46) but the Dubs came back, with Saric on fire. Enough to regain the lead (50-49). A few errors for Wembanyama, here a loss of the ball, there a missed shot from close range, or even this excess of greed punished by a counter from Gary Payton II. The French giant got his nerves out with a counter volley smash on Andrew Wiggins. In the end, Golden State led 59-55 at the break, with 12 points from Curry and Saric, 11 from Thompson. “SA” side, 14 points from Vassell, 11 from Johnson and 9 from “Wemby”, all in the first quarter.
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The Warriors play to scare each other
A bit of a crazy start to the third quarter, a bit too much for the taste of both coaches, with 1/11 on shots combined for both teams (61-57). Wembanyama again felt comfortable in attack, for example with this long two points on the muzzle of Kevon Looney (66-68). “Chef Curry” put on his hat and began to cook the Spurs, the latter exploding in the face of the defensive pressure of the Californians (82-68). A scathing 16-0, including 11 points from Curry. Unplayable… “Wemby” put an end to the bleeding (82-70) and there was finally “only” -5 at the start of the last 12 minutes (86-81).
New boost from Steve Kerr’s players, with a 15-2 to start the fourth quarter, driven by Kuminga (101-83) and… new closer from San Antonio (103-93). Curry probably thought he had delivered the blow, he who had plenty of time to come out with three points after seeing the shadow of “Wemby” under the circle (110-95). But Golden State again increased turnovers, five in a row, and Saric took a technical: 110-106 at the start of the last minute! A good stop, two shots from Curry with 27”2 to play (112-106). End of the story ? No, because Cedi Osman hit the mark from long distance on a decisive pass from Wembanyama (112-109)! Alas, Curry did not tremble on the throws (114-109), Wembanyama missed a (good) three-point shot coming out of timeout and Johnson left a throw on the way after capturing the offensive rebound (114-110). Behind, the “Splash brothers” were flawless in their throws (118-112 final score). The Spurs will visit champion Denver on Sunday.
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