NBA Notes: Spurs, Victor Wembanyama, Bucks, Ryan Rollins, Nuggets

Spurs

The Spurs’ fast start isn’t just surprising anymore. It’s historic.

As relayed by SB Nation’s Jacob Douglas, San Antonio is 5-0 for the first time in franchise history. And the Frost Bank Center felt like it Friday night, when Victor Wembanyama grabbed the mic postgame and declared, “This is years of work for all of us, and now we have the maturity to get wins.”

The Spurs beat the Heat 107–101, surviving yet another wild finish. They led by 15 entering the fourth, lost the lead midway through, then shut the door with clutch defense and timely buckets from Harrison Barnes and Stephon Castle.

But Wembanyama was the difference. The 7-foot-4 superstar finished with 27 points, 18 rebounds, six assists, and five blocks, playing a season-high 40 minutes.

“For him to play through that physicality and fatigue, it’s commendable,” coach Mitch Johnson said.

Castle added 21 points and four steals, while San Antonio racked up 10 steals overall and 19 points off turnovers.

The Spurs will now look to keep the streak alive when they visit the Suns on Sunday.

Bucks

No Giannis Antetokounmpo, no problem, at least for one night.

The Bucks scratched Antetokounmpo just before tipoff in Thursday’s win over the Warriors, but guard Ryan Rollins stole the show with a career-high 32 points, adding eight assists and five boards in Milwaukee’s 119–110 victory.

Rollins, who was drafted by Golden State before being traded away, also had 25 points on Tuesday, making this a legitimate breakout week.

Antetokounmpo was listed as probable with back soreness, but Milwaukee’s depth carried the night. The Bucks improved to 4–1 and will host the Nuggets next.

Nuggets

Denver’s big-man rotation is giving Nikola Jokic something he hasn’t had in years. Namely, rest.

Backup center Jonas Valanciunas has been a revelation early, helping Denver extend leads even with the MVP on the bench.

In Wednesday’s win over the Pelicans, Valanciunas had 10 points, six rebounds, and three assists in 14 minutes, all while the Nuggets outscored New Orleans with Jokic resting.

“He’s a threat down there,” Jokic said, via Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post. “He scores, passes, takes pressure off everyone. That’s big for us.”

Aaron Gordon added: “He’s certified. He’s just really, really, really, really good. So there’s not a huge drop-off. He’s just smart. Knows his game. Knows his spots. He’s bigger than every other matchup he has on him. And he settles down that second unit. When things get stymied or we can’t find a bucket, you can play through Big Val, just like how we play through ‘Joker.’”

Not that Jokic needed much help. After all, he recorded his fourth straight triple-double to start the season, tying an NBA record.