Victor Wembanyama is injured, but Spurs are cutting the champagne!

Champagne is drunk chilled, champagne is enjoyed hot and steaming! For this last match of the year, a few hours before the New Year celebration, Spurs could count on a contribution Julian Champagne “In the zone” to beat the Knicks! The guard made 11/17 three-pointers (his new career high) and scored 36 points to help take down a New York team that believed in its chances until the end.

The victory of 134-132 was also marked by an exit Victor Vembanyamawho didn’t spare himself until early in the fourth quarter, when a bad fall and a sprained left knee forced him to take no chances and return to the locker room.

New York therefore believed in its star for a while. There was already a near-perfect start, like two 3-pointers in quick succession. Mohammed Diawara (3-10). The Knicks were able to play strong defense to win the transition game, take advantage of Wemby’s bench passes, and were able to take off thanks to their 3-point skills (12/24 at halftime). At +12 at the end of the first quarter (31-43), Mike Brown’s men went +19 thanks to a 14-0 run marked by two dunks by OG Anunoby and three consecutive baskets by Jordan Clarkson to increase the score to 71-52! It then took an 11-2 run fueled by two 3-pointers from Victor Wembanyama to reignite the debates at halftime (63-73).

Wembie’s exit due to injury

Myles McBride briefly put New York back up by more than ten points, before the “Champagne Show” began with four 3-pointers in the third quarter alone to relentlessly drive San Antonio back into the game until they tied the game at 91-91. In addition to barely coming back, the Spurs recovered a burst, on a three-pointer by Jordan Clarkson served by Jalen Brunson who then chained 8 points, including two arrows from distance, to get their own to +9 (93-102).

The outcome then seemed far from obvious for San Antonio, especially after the injury to Victor Wembanyama. Julian Champagne had to work again by making four 3-pointers again to bring his team within 116-116, before using precious relays to force a decision. Because this time, it was De’Aaron Fox twice, then Luke Cornett on two baskets caught near the circle, including one with a foul, which allowed San Antonio to escape with the victory, not forgetting Keldon Johnson’s precious 6/6 shooting in the last minute that allowed the Spurs to win at the wire, 134-32, and close this final 2-20. victory!

WHAT TO REMEMBER

Wemby gives us a good scare. The alien didn’t spare himself in the first three quarters, making his 300th career 3-pointer in the process, but New York was able to contain him until this layup that ended the collapse. Like Nikola Jokic, his left knee hyperextension on landing did not bode well. Going straight back to the dressing room, quite annoyed, Victor Wembanyama finally returned to the bench, in slippers, to watch the end of the match. A positive sign was sent to his teammates and fans who were celebrating a victory that had taken time to take shape at the end. We will have to wait for confirmation from the Texas medical staff as to the severity of his injury.

https://vvv.youtube.com/vatch?v=UNhHK3jAA1K

Effervescent Julian Champagne. There are days like that! Evenings where nothing comes despite all the application and determination in the world. And another, where the diameter of the circle seems to have tripled! Julian Champagnie became euphoric from the third quarter onward, hitting four 3-pointers to seal his personal best. This then grew to 11 3-pointers, making him the No. 1 3-pointer in Spurs history, ahead of Chuck Person and his 9 in 1997. Crazy night for the Spurs guard who was able to bask in his feat in the intoxication of victory. It took at least that to counter the Knicks’ 22/52 3-point shooting…

Any news from Mohamed Diawara? Holder, six minutes of play marked by two baskets for 3 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist… And then nothing, we completely lost sight of Mohamed Diawara! A strange choice by Mike Brown when the Frenchman still seemed to be off to a good start. It was a bit of the same thing for Kevin McCullar Jr, a native of San Antonio and the author of 3 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists on the first pass that went unanswered. Weird…

https://vvv.youtube.com/vatch?v=2AKLzaizIEM

How to read statistics? Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive jump; T = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Difference of points when the player is on the field; Points = Points; Rating: player rating calculated based on positive actions – negative actions.