San Antonio, TX — After being thrown out of Game 4 for an elbow to Naz Reid, Victor Wembanyama kept his cool when the Western Conference semifinal resumed Tuesday night, and the result was a 29-point Spurs victory over Minnesota.
Early jawing from Jaden McDaniels, Ayo Dosunmu and Anthony Edwards failed to rattle the 22-year-old center. “I felt like they might try to bait me,” Wembanyama said. “As a team, we just needed to stay composed.”
The rookie sensation answered with 27 points, 17 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two three-pointers — a statistical combination never before recorded in an NBA playoff game. Head coach Mitch Johnson praised the controlled performance, noting that forward Devin Vassell had asked for “Angry Vic,” but “Mature Vic” was exactly what San Antonio needed.
Harper’s Impact Off the Bench
Reserve guard Dylan Harper punctuated his night with a fourth-quarter dunk and finished plus-13. The Spurs are plus-73 in postseason minutes with the 20-year-old on the floor. Teammate Carter Bryant said Harper would be “starting and probably winning Rookie of the Year” on most clubs, adding that his willingness to accept a smaller role has been “amazing.”
Keldon Johnson Rekindles Sixth-Man Form
Keldon Johnson, quiet for most of the playoffs, went 8-for-11 and scored 21 points Tuesday. The veteran swingman had totaled just 31 points in five games against Portland and 35 in the first four contests of this series.
Coach Sees Long Runway for Young Core
Before Game 4, Johnson emphasized the long-term potential of the Spurs’ youthful nucleus — Wembanyama (22), Stephon Castle (21), Harper (20) and Bryant (20). “None of them are close to their ceiling,” he said. “We’re still learning about each other and ourselves, and that includes the coaching staff. We’re nowhere near a finished product.”
The Spurs now hold a 3-2 series lead, with Game 6 set for Thursday in Minneapolis.
Source: Hoops Rumors
