Victor Wembanyama outduels Jalen Brunson to lead Spurs past Knicks

An all-time historic performance graced the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio on Friday night, but the Spurs had someone answer it with Victor Wembanyama’s historic play of his own.

The phenomenal rookie ousted the herculean effort of New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson, tallying a 40-point, 20-rebound, and 7-assist line to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a thrilling 130-126 overtime win.

Brunson was sensational as he scored 61 points on an incredible 25-47 from the field. He only shot 6 free throws all game long and was 5-13 on threes. The 61-point outing from Brunson was one short of the all-time Knicks scoring record by Carmelo Anthony in 2014 when he scored 62 points vs the Charlotte Hornets.

Wembanyama’s historic night was also his career-high scoring in points, resulting in a third straight win for the Spurs as the presumed Rookie of the Year frontrunner’s season winds to a close. His and Brunson’s stat line was only the second time in NBA history that it has happened, with the other instance happening in 1961 when Wilt Chamberlain had 78 points and 43 rebounds and Elgin Baylor had 63 points, according to ESPN Stats and Information research.

Wembanyama sank a huge three late in overtime to put the Spurs up four, 128-124, to keep the Knicks in bay. 

Brunson’s 61 surpassed his career-high of 50 which was set vs the Phoenix Suns earlier in the season.

Donte DiVincenzo, who broke the Knicks’ record for most threes in a season, scored 20 points with 6 threes while Devin Vassell added 23 for the Spurs.

New York’s loss (44-29) moved them half a game behind the Cleveland Cavaliers (45-29) in the race for the third seed in the Eastern Conference after they beat the Philadelphia 76ers, 117-114.