Evening of revenge Phoenixtwo days after the hold-up of San Antonio on this same floor of the Footprint Center. A match which marks the return to business of Devin Booker after three consecutive absences.
The fact remains that the first quarter was clearly to the advantage of the visitors (39-20). In reality, it is quite simply the opposite of the meeting on Tuesday evening, with Spurs collectively on fire and clean in the face of Suns who rely on a man —Kevin Durant in this case (with a bit of Drew Eubanks)—to exist. Devin Vassell, Victor Wembanyama, Cedi Osman or Zach Collins thus causing lightning to fall on the local defense.
With Tre Jones at the helm and Devin Vassell at the conclusion, the San Antonio attack in transition continues to do damage as the minutes pass. Victor Wembanyama also goes for his points near the circle and the gap grows, again and again. Phoenix does not succeed in bringing it back down (75-55), because its defense behind the arc or in the paint is absent and its lost balls are too numerous.
Untenable, “Wemby” finished the half strong with a big dunk on a quick play, then two 3-pointers in a row to bring his total to… 20 points! Just huge.
Bad news, however, on the Texan side: Devin Vassell will not return to the game because of a groin injury. Nothing to destabilize the Spurs, however, as they control this match in the wake of Zach Collins, Jeremy Sochan and especially Victor Wembanyama, who continues to torment the Suns’ racket with high-altitude baskets. The efforts of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Grayson Allen are not really enough to cool down the “Wemby” teammates, nevertheless not safe (103-89).
Illustration with Devin Booker’s hot shot at the start of the fourth quarter, just to reignite the suspense. Doug McDermott tries to respond with his 3-pointers, but that doesn’t stop Phoenix from overthrowing San Antonio under the leadership of “Book”! Money time then becomes very tense but, as a boss, “Wemby” takes the game into his own hands, attracts all the balls to him and folds the deal like a big man. From far away, mid-distance and up close (132-121)!!! AMAZING.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Victor Wembanyama’s first card. He was keen to perform well throughout a match, and not just in the last quarter, so “Wemby” walked his talk. Consistent, he turned over the Suns racket all evening! A real recital on each side for the Frenchman, indefensible with his size and perfect leader of this Texan franchise which lost Devin Vassell along the way. We appreciate, above all, his “money time” in the past, to finish off Phoenix who was coming back very, very strongly.
TOP/FLOP
✅ Victor Wembanyama. Author of the second best total points of a French rookie behind Rodrigue Beaubois (40 points in 2010) and the third best total of points of a Spurs rookie behind David Robinson (41 and 39 points in 1990), “Wemby” is also the fourth player, after Ralph Sampson, David Robinson and Shaquille O’Neal, to average at least 20 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks in his first five career games.
⛔️ Phoenix’s defense. Martyred by Victor Wembanyama but also Devin Vassell, Zach Collins, Jeremy Sochan, Tre Jones and Cedi Osman, the Suns have collapsed defensively and will have to work…
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.
