What flavor do you like your popcorn? Are you a traditional butter person? Or do you look forward to the holidays, when the Chicago mix makes its annual appearance, and you’re treated to that glorious combination of cheddar and caramel popcorn? Because on Monday night against the San Antonio Spurs, you might as well have grabbed a bag of your favorite popcorn, settled into your favorite chair, and enjoyed the show that is Victor Wembanyama.
Coming off an electrifying 52-point performance last week
that included 24 rebounds and eight blocks, Wembanyama followed it up with another spectacular showing, this time at the expense of the Phoenix Suns, as San Antonio cruised to a 122-96 victory.
Wemby was the story. Plain and simple. He finished the evening with 40 points on an absurd 15-of-19 shooting, adding 11 rebounds and eight blocks. And here’s the part that makes those numbers even more ridiculous: He accomplished all of that damage in a mere 25 minutes of action. You know how we like to track Khaman Maluach’s restocks per 36 minutes around here? That wonderful combination of rebounds, steals, and blocks that helps quantify a big man’s impact? Well, Wembanyama posted 27 restocks per 36 minutes in this one.
Devin Booker certainly did his part to keep the Suns afloat, scoring 32 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field. He also added four assists, a steal, and a block while committing zero turnovers. Unfortunately, no other Phoenix starter scored more than seven points to help him out.
Against a team like the Spurs, you need to be able to shoot the three ball efficiently to have a chance at competing, and the Suns simply couldn’t do that. They ended 9-of-26 from deep, good for 34.6%. They only turned the ball over 7 times. But they were blocked 10 times.
San Antonio has now won nine consecutive games and sits at 9-2 on the season, while the Phoenix Suns have fallen to 3-6.
Game Flow
First Half
The whistle was blown pretty liberally to start the game, as Victor Wembanyama drew three shooting fouls within the first five minutes. San Antonio’s early game plan was clearly to attack the basket, knowing the Suns lacked a significant shot-blocking presence on the interior. Meanwhile, Devin Booker once again catalyzed Phoenix’s offense, scoring the team’s first nine points.
Booker’s presence was certainly felt throughout the first quarter, and his impact was evident on both ends of the floor. His best sequence began with a defensive breakup of an alley-oop attempt to Stephon Castle. He then went down to the other end and knocked down a three-pointer over Victor Wembanyama.
Devin Booker finished the first quarter shooting 5-of-8 from the field and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc, scoring 15 of the Suns’ 25 points. But the Spurs capitalized on all three of Phoenix’s turnovers, converting them into seven points while outrebounding the Suns 14-9. San Antonio took a 31-25 lead into the second quarter.
The momentum carried over as the Spurs extended their run to 12-0 across the two quarters, pushing Phoenix’s deficit to 11 points. With Devin Booker taking a breather, the Suns opened the second quarter shooting 1-of-6 from the field and 0-of-4 from beyond the arc through the first 2:37. Meanwhile, the Spurs were a perfect 4-of-4 from the field, including 1-of-1 from deep, and suddenly Phoenix found itself trailing by 14 points.
The Suns were -12 in the non-Booker minutes in the second. From 1:23 in the first to 7:59 in the second, the Spurs put together a 21-2 run.
With 5:19 remaining in the second quarter, the Suns found themselves trailing by 20 points.
Then, with 1:54 left in the first half, Keldon Johnson delivered an unnatural kick on a layup attempt that caught Devin Booker square in the junk, the same type of play that got Dillon Brooks ejected last week. Yet the officials opted not to even review it. Funny how that works, isn’t it?
Over the final eight minutes of the half, Phoenix was +3 with Booker on the floor, but the Suns were ultimately outscored 30-21 in the second quarter. Booker finished the half with 23 points.
Meanwhile, Victor Wembanyama had 22 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line. He also added six rebounds, three assists, and five blocks, leading the Spurs in all of those statistical categories. At halftime, San Antonio led Phoenix 61-46.
Second Half
The Phoenix Suns opened the second half with a much-needed infusion of energy, finding opportunities to attack in transition and briefly put pressure on the San Antonio Spurs. After an opening three-pointer from Julian Champagnie, Phoenix responded with an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to 10 points. But getting that close seemed to flip a switch for Victor Wembanyama, as San Antonio answered with a 10-4 run of its own to regain control. Before long, the Suns found themselves staring at another 20-point deficit.
Phoenix had another frustrating offensive quarter and again failed to reach 25 points. The Suns collectively shot 8-of-26 from the field and 3-of-9 from beyond the arc, struggling to generate any consistent offensive rhythm. Devin Booker led the way with nine points, while Dillon Brooks contributed five. The rest of the roster? A miserable 3-of-14 from the field.
Meanwhile, San Antonio continued to demonstrate why it’s one of the most dangerous teams in the Western Conference. Dylan Harper erupted for 14 points in the third quarter, adding three rebounds and an assist, while Wembanyama contributed 10 points, four rebounds, and a block. Every time Phoenix appeared ready to make things interesting, the Spurs had an answer, methodically dismantling whatever momentum the Suns managed to generate.
By the end of the third quarter, Phoenix trailed 93-68, facing a 25-point deficit and another uphill battle that was becoming increasingly difficult to overcome.
The fourth quarter? Well, the Suns essentially waved the white flag with eight minutes remaining, pulling their starters and allowing Jamaree Bouyea and Rasheer Fleming to see the floor. Cam Spencer, Koa Peat, and Duop Reath followed shortly thereafter, as Phoenix found itself trailing by 30 points and the outcome was all but decided.
There were at least a few entertaining moments from the young guys. Peat, the Suns’ rookie, wasted little time making an impression, executing a smooth spin move before finishing off the glass. On the very next possession, he connected with Jamaree Bouyea for an alley-oop, providing a brief spark of energy as Phoenix trimmed the deficit to 26 points.
At that stage, moral victories were about the only thing left to celebrate. Suns lose, 122-96.
Up Next
The Suns are right back at it tomorrow night as they host the Clippers. We shall see you then.
