Everything is still going well for the Thunder, a little less for the Spurs and Victor Wembanyama. San Antonio was extinguished in Oklahoma City (105-93) in a meeting dominated head and shoulders by Mark Daigneault's players. “Wemby” did not exist, ending with its lowest career total points and shots made.
The first minute of the game set the tone of the evening for the French interior. “Wemby” is sought after in the alley-oop to take advantage of the size advantage over his defender Jalen Williams. But Chet Holmgren comes from afar and slams the pass against the plexiglass, before blocking Jeremy Sochan's lay-up on the offensive rebound.
On the next possession, Victor Wembanyama was not quick enough to recover a pass from Chris Paul, intercepted by Lu Dort, who was also much smaller than the Habs. Jostled, the Spurs and their star will be shaken throughout the match by the high-level defense of the Thunder.
Wembanyama cut off from his teammates
The Texans only led for barely three minutes at the start of the match, before the Thunder signed an initial 13-0 to take control. Then a new series of 10-0 in the second act to take the lead (45-26), with a superb 13/26 from distance at the break. Hampered by Oklahoma City's ability to change on all screens without ever losing aggressiveness, the visitors had a hard time developing the game.
The Spurs at least had the merit of never giving up, coming back to seven points on several occasions after the break. But even without a great Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Wednesday, OKC found other resources, from the distance skill of Dort (6/8 at 3-points) to the audacity of rookie Ajay Mitchell, crucial to pushing back the assault on San Antonio.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– One of the worst career matches for Victor Wembanyama. The Thunder found the recipe to not only limit, but even stop “Wemby”. With his lower but strong defenders ready to move him at the slightest opportunity, and Chet Holmgren covering if necessary, Victor Wembanyama was never able to find preferential positions in attack. Returning to the locker room after a blow in the second quarter, he finished with six small points and only one successful shot, unheard of in his NBA career, and no shot attempted in the second period. He adds four lost balls, against the Thunder's two catches.
– The Spurs still have work to do on offense. The integration of Chris Paul should help San Antonio with traffic and offensive accuracy. But the adaptation will still take some time. Gregg Popovich's team has accumulated 22 lost balls (for 22 passes), after having already dropped 19, 17 and 17 in its first three games. The Thunder, the best team at provoking errors from its opponents in the entire league, enjoyed it.
– OKC is rolling… and still has some under its belt. Four matches, four victories, all by more than ten points, three of which left the opponent under 100 points. The Thunder's start to the season is almost ideal. On Wednesday, Oklahoma City did not give the impression of having to push its talent too hard, easily surviving an evening without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in shooting (7/20 including 2/10 long distance).
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
