West Notes: Spurs, Victor Wembanyama, Pelicans, Derik Queen, Mavericks

Spurs

Victor Wembanyama continues to make the extraordinary look routine.

The Spurs’ 7-foot-4 phenom came within a single block of a triple-double in Friday’s overtime win against the Pelicans, finishing with 29 points, 11 rebounds and nine rejections, as relayed by Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News.

That followed a 40-point, 15-rebound eruption in Wednesday’s 125–92 rout of Dallas. And even Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg couldn’t help but marvel at the reigning Rookie of the Year.

“He is incredible. He is a different player,” Flagg said, via ESPN’s Michael C. Wright. “You can’t know what it’s like until you’re out there on the court with him. It’s something I’ve never seen before. He was great tonight, but we’ve got to do a better job of taking away some of his looks.”

Through two games, Wembanyama looks like a superstar ascending — a player already living up to the sky-high expectations and perhaps an NBA MVP candidate.

Pelicans

Two of New Orleans’ first-round picks are wasting no time making an impact. Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen both played significant minutes down the stretch of Friday’s loss to San Antonio, showing the poise of seasoned veterans, according to Rod Walker of NOLA.com.

Queen logged 35 minutes and tallied 15 points, six rebounds and two blocks. Fears added 13 points, four boards and two steals in 29 minutes.

“I saw a lot of poise from both guys,” head coach Willie Green said. “You can tell they want it.”

Meanwhile, the Pelicans’ early-season performance will go a long way in shaping Joe Dumars’ reputation as the team’s new lead executive, Walker wrote.

“Before you can get to the playoffs or a certain amount of wins, the first thing you have to get to is, ‘We compete hard every night,’” Dumars said. “If you don’t establish that in your building first, you’re just talking.”

Mavericks

In case you missed it, patience is again wearing thin in Dallas, as we relayed here.

Per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, fans at American Airlines Center chanted “Fire Nico!” on Friday as the Mavericks fell to the rebuilding Wizards, 117–107.

The target, of course, was general manager Nico Harrison — the architect of a roster that’s stumbled to an 0–2 start.

Mavs coach Jason Kidd tried to calm the noise.

“I think they have a right to vent, but there’s patience needed,” Kidd said. “It’s a different team. We’re still learning each other. I understand the frustration. We all want to win.”

Kidd recently inked a multi-year extension after being linked to the Knicks’ coaching vacancy, but MacMahon reports there have been no talks about a new deal for Harrison, who has two years left on his contract.