Overview
- Wembanyama finished with 19 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block on 5-of-14 shooting (35%) and was disqualified on his sixth foul with 1:39 remaining.
- His final foul came on an offensive charge into Rui Hachimura after a coach’s challenge that did not overturn the call, capping a night his coach labeled “funky” and “physical.”
- Los Angeles prevailed despite absences for LeBron James and Austin Reaves, with Luka Doncic posting 35 points, 13 assists and 9 rebounds in a whistle-heavy game featuring 66 fouls and 88 free throws.
- Opponents increasingly sent constant doubles and applied aggressive physical pressure, a formula that also disrupted him in Phoenix and contributed to foul trouble and reduced efficiency.
- Nicolas Batum praised Wembanyama as a Top 5 NBA player and urged that the Spurs’ collective evolve around him, likening their trajectory to Oklahoma City’s recent young-core build.