NEW YORK — High on the Madison Square Garden scoreboard, a video montage performed of blocked photographs from New York Knicks of yesteryear as DMX’s “Party Up” blared over the general public deal with system.
Down on the courtroom, although, no Knick may leap excessive sufficient Wednesday to swat a shot launched by Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 proprietor of a standing attain of almost 10 ft. Making his Christmas Day debut, the Frenchman blistered the Knicks for a game-high 42 factors — probably the most by a customer on Christmas at Madison Square Garden — to go together with 18 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks in a 117-114 San Antonio Spurs loss delivered by means of a 41-point effort from Mikal Bridges.
Wembanyama set free a deep sigh and paused for 5 seconds to ponder his efficiency in a sport the Spurs had an opportunity to tie within the last minute.
“I do not even know actually the historical past of the most effective Christmas video games,” Wembanyama mentioned. “I’m serious about the sport proper now and simply pondering we have been shut however relaxed on some attributes at occasions.”
Wembanyama turned the third participant in NBA historical past after Wilt Chamberlain (1959 and 1961) and Nikola Jokic (2022) to attain 40-plus factors with 15-plus rebounds in a Christmas sport. His 42-point efficiency ranks third in NBA historical past for a participant making his Christmas Day debut behind Chamberlain (45) and Tracy McGrady (43).
“Good Lord, man,” Knicks guard Josh Hart mentioned of Wembanyama. “He’s totally different. The league shall be in good arms when all of the outdated guys and elder statesmen like LeBron [James] and [Kevin Durant] are out of the [sport]. His launch level is so excessive, and his skill to hit photographs, it opens up the whole lot for them.”
The showdown marked solely the third occasion of dueling 40-point performances on Christmas. The final two occurred in 1961 in video games that includes Elgin Baylor towards Oscar Robertson, and Chamberlain going through Richie Guerin.
Wembanyama has cobbled collectively 4 consecutive video games through which he related on no less than 4 3-pointers and blocked 4 photographs. The 20-year-old is the one participant to realize these numbers in consecutive outings.
“He did job of imposing his will, leaving his imprint on the sport,” Spurs performing coach Mitch Johnson mentioned. “Strong catches, finishes and drives to the rim. Obviously, he made some photographs, did job defensively. I assumed we have been related as a crew and generally that allowed his particular person talent set on that finish to shine by means of.”
Wembanyama began slowly on offense, making solely 3 of 9 photographs from the sphere within the first quarter whereas lacking his first 4 makes an attempt from 3-point vary. On the protection, he made a direct impression with a blocked shot after three minutes. In truth, the Spurs’ huge man restricted the Knicks to 3-of-13 capturing on the day because the contesting defender. Wembanyama held Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns to 1-of-9 capturing from the sphere because the contesting defender.
“He’s using his God-given traits,” Towns mentioned. “That’s what makes him a particular defensive participant, in addition to his skill to cowl house. He’s athletic to maneuver fast sufficient to get to the spots. He’s tall sufficient to change photographs. He’s been blessed by God and using his expertise for his household and the Spurs group.”
Wembanyama did not warmth up on offense till the second quarter, when he racked up 14 factors on 6-of-9 capturing with 7 rebounds and a pair of made 3s on 50% capturing. By halftime, Wembanyama had tallied 24 factors, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and a pair of blocks. It marked solely the third time after Shaquille O’Neal (2000) and Anthony Davis (2015) prior to now 25 years {that a} participant scored no less than 20 factors with 10 boards earlier than halftime of a Christmas Day sport.
Wembanyama drilled a game-high six 3s. But the setback at MSG is the primary time this season San Antonio misplaced a sport through which it shot no less than 40% from distance.
The Knicks’ dominance on the offensive glass (17 offensive rebounds) performed a job, as they outscored the Spurs in second-chance factors 19-13, and bested them 58-50 in paint scoring.
“I do not assume it was a sport about momentum. I feel it was a sport about being canines,” Wembanyama mentioned. “When the clock begins happening — 5 minutes, three minutes — we allow them to get some rebounds on us. We allow them to transfer us a bit of an excessive amount of. This is what it was about. They did not win towards us as a result of they performed higher basketball. Not in any respect. Tonight, simply proved we aren’t prepared but. We are proper there. It’s only a [switch] we have to [flip] as a result of I’m positive we will see that it really works and we will get hooked on taking part in this manner. It’s excessive effort to play like that, but in addition excessive reward.”
Before each outing, when the clock reveals the competition is 60 minutes away from tipoff, the Spurs wish to play a fast sport of trivia that includes varied basketball-related matters. Christmas Day scoring was the subject forward of the matchup towards the Knicks, in line with level guard Chris Paul, who completed with seven assists to maneuver into seventh place on the all-time listing for assists on Christmas.
“We all attempt to guess,” Paul mentioned. “I feel [McGrady] was on there, Luka [Doncic]. Vic had 42, so now he is on that listing, what I imply? We see him day in and day trip. So, we’re not stunned by that. For us, the following step is profitable these video games. That’s all it is about.”
