Back from their crazy “Weby Week” in Paris, Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs failed to reissue their December 31 performance against the Clippers. Victorious of 36 points of the men of Tyronn Lue (122-86) on the evening of New Year's Eve, the Texans were unable to compete this time with the Angelinos. Led by great Kawhi Leonard and Norman Powell – both at 27 points, the Clippers validated their 27th victory of the season in 47 games.
The Spurs, relayed at 16 points in the middle of the third quarter (67-83), were generally dominated by more combative clippers. The protégés of the Frost Bank Center have however managed to start again with a 20-4 in five minutes in the heart of the 3rd period (from 70-85 to 90-89). Freshly selected to participate in Rising Stars and the Dunk competition, Stephon Castle (20 points) was once again impressive of mastery and serenity.
The zubac problem
Author of a huge double-double, with 21 points accompanied by 22 rebounds (!), Ivica Zubac posed many problems to the Spurs, also making Victor Wembanyama flick with a shoulder on the French at the end of the 3rd quarter time. “I” built “him a little too strong, I let the emotions take over: I apologized to him, it is not the way I want to play on the field”, In particular reacted the Croatian interior.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f6rnwwim
Two awarded shots of Devin Vassell followed by a long distance shooting of “Wemby” allowed Spurs in the hollow of the wave of ironing in front of five minutes from the term (105-104). But too lonely, they could not carry their team on their large shoulder to the finish line …
“Clearly the most difficult moment of our season”
After having undergone their heaviest defeat of the season in the second match against the Pacers in Paris (-38), the Spurs still cannot hang up with the Wagon of the Top 10. Even more annoying, the Texans are at the Stop at the start of 2025 and thus undergo an 8th defeat in 11 games, before finding the Bucks at home, on the night of Friday to Saturday. “It is clearly the most difficult moment of our season”estimates Victor Wembanyama, who, for the time being, has “No explanation” At Texans Ailments …
What to remember
– Victor Wembanyama too inconsistent. Admittedly, “Wemby” compiled several high class actions on both sides of the field but he could not weigh in the decisive moments of the meeting. Too lonely, perhaps tired and undoubtedly frustrated by a permissive arbitration … Despite everything, he ends up in “double-double”, with 23 points at 8/16 on shots and 12 rebounds but also 4 passes and 3 counters in 35 minutes.
– The battle of the rebound widely won by the Clippers. Rare to be underlined: the Californians have almost captured twice as many rebounds as the Texans, with 61 catches against 37. James Harden and his band took advantage of this harvest of rebounds to score 22 points on 2nd chance.
-Nicolas Batum crossed the 1,700 3-point mark marked in the NBA. In verve facing the Spurs (12 points and 5 rebounds), the former winger of the Blues (36 years old) spent this symbolic milestone, in his 17th season in the big league.
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How to read the stats? Min = minutes; Shots = successful shots / tempted shots; 3pts = 3-point / 3-point attempted; LF = Successful free throws / tempted free throws; O = offensive rebound; D = defensive rebound; T = total rebounds; PD = assists; FTE: Personal faults; Int = interceptions; BP = lost bullets; CT: against; +/- = Differential points when the player is on the field; Pts = points; EVAL: evaluation of the player calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
