Victor Vembanyama’s jubilant reaction to Chet Holmgren’s missed free throw
As it is The San Antonio Spurs face the Oklahoma City Thunder in a Christmas Day matchup Thursday afternoon, Spurs star Victor Vembanyama he delivered a brief but spirited reaction during a key moment in the first half.
Midway through the second quarter, Vembanjama was fouled by the Thunder center Chet Holmgren as Holmgren went to the free throw line. After Holmgren missed the attempt, Vembanjama turned towards the touchline and shouted a two-word reaction which quickly attracted attention.
“Hell yes!”
Victor Wembanyama’s reaction highlights Spurs’ early control of the Thunder on Christmas Day
The moment reflected the intensity of the holiday match, which has added significance given the recent history between the two teams. Entering Thursday, San Antonio had already beaten Oklahoma City twice this season, including a close one Victory in the semi-finals of the NBA Cup and a decisive win on the road earlier this week.
At the time of the trade, the Spurs led 61-48 with less than four minutes left in the first half. Vembanjama had nine points, five rebounds and one block while logging nine minutes of action, continuing to be a strong two-way presence in Oklahoma City’s frontcourt.
The Christmas Day game airs nationally on ABC and ESPN, putting the matchup in one of the NBA’s prime holiday slots. With playoff positioning, confidence and momentum in play, Spurs’ energy — highlighted by Vembanyama’s reaction — underlines the competitive tone of this afternoon’s contest.
2025-12-25 20:39:00
