West Notes: Wembanyama Flirts With Triple-Double, Pelicans Rookies Deliver, Dallas Crowd Targets Front Office
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Spurs
Victor Wembanyama nearly posted a triple-double on Friday, collecting 29 points, 11 rebounds and nine blocks in San Antonio’s 118-113 overtime victory over the Pelicans. The 7-foot-4 sophomore followed Wednesday’s 40-point, 15-rebound performance against Dallas with another eye-catching line, reinforcing the early belief that he could enter the MVP race.
Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg, who faced Wembanyama during the midweek 125-92 loss, admitted the French star’s impact is hard to replicate in scouting reports. “He is incredible. He is a different player,” Flagg told ESPN. “You can’t know what it’s like until you’re on the court with him.”
Pelicans
New Orleans’ first-round selections Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen logged significant closing-time minutes in the overtime defeat. Queen played 35 minutes, finishing with 15 points, six rebounds and two blocks, while Fears added 13 points, four boards and two steals across 29 minutes.
“I saw a lot of poise from both guys,” head coach Willie Green said after the game. The franchise’s new top executive, Joe Dumars, emphasized that nightly effort remains his baseline goal: “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.’”
Mavericks
Frustration in Dallas boiled over during Friday’s 117-107 loss to the rebuilding Wizards, as fans at American Airlines Center chanted “Fire Nico!”—a reference to general manager Nico Harrison. The Mavericks have opened the season 0-2 despite offseason roster changes overseen by Harrison.
Head coach Jason Kidd, who recently signed a multi-year extension after being linked to the Knicks job, urged supporters to stay patient. “They have a right to vent, but there’s patience needed,” Kidd said. “It’s a different team. We’re still learning each other.” ESPN reported that Harrison, with two seasons left on his deal, has not engaged in extension talks.
Source: Hoops Wire
