NBA: Another big night for Victor Wembanyama gives Spurs another win

Victor Wembanyama posted 19 points, 15 rebounds, and seven blocks as the visiting San Antonio Spurs dominated from the opening minutes and secured a wire-to-wire 123-98 victory over the injury-riddled Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.

The Spurs (55-18) have won seven straight games and improved to 23-2 since February 1, the best record in the NBA during that stretch. San Antonio, winners of 12 of their last 13, now stand at 27-11 on the road and have trimmed first-place Oklahoma City’s lead in the Western Conference to two games following the Thunder’s 119-109 loss at Boston.

Devin Vassell added 19 points and seven rebounds for the Spurs, while Keldon Johnson and Stephon Castle contributed 15 points each. Castle also recorded nine assists, and Johnson grabbed seven rebounds. Julian Champagnie chipped in 13 points and eight boards.

Wembanyama continues to impress this week, following Monday’s performance against Miami where he had 26 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks in a 25-point victory.

For the Grizzlies (24-48), GG Jackson led with 20 points and seven rebounds. Olivier-Maxence Prosper scored 17 points, and DeJon Jarreau added 15. Memphis has lost 12 of its last 13 games and was missing several key players, including Ja Morant, Zach Edey, Scotty Pippen Jr., Brandon Clarke, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope due to season-ending injuries. Ty Jerome (left ankle) and Jaylen Wells (right toe) were also sidelined for Wednesday’s game.

Even with all five starters sitting out the entire fourth quarter, the Spurs extended their lead to as many as 39 points twice, the second time with 9:53 remaining on a Johnson floater. San Antonio dominated the boards, outrebounding Memphis 59-33.

The Spurs set the tone early with a 17-0 run over 2:35 in the first quarter, building a 22-4 lead with 6:53 remaining, capped by a thunderous windmill dunk from Castle. A similar surge in the third quarter allowed San Antonio to pull away, outscoring Memphis 41-20. After Memphis had trimmed the deficit to 15 points (64-49) on a Prosper three-pointer, the Spurs responded with an 11-0 run for a 75-49 lead with 7:39 left in the period. San Antonio increased its advantage to 34 points late in the third and led by the same margin, 98-64, after Wembanyama sank a three-pointer at the buzzer.

—Field Level Media/Reuters