Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama Struggles in 130-118 Loss to Suns
UPDATE: The San Antonio Spurs faced a shocking setback as they suffered their first loss of the season, falling 130-118 to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday. Star player Victor Wembanyama struggled dramatically, scoring just nine points on 4-of-14 shooting, marking his first game under ten points since October 30, 2024.
Wembanyama, who has been a sensation averaging 30.2 points and 14.6 rebounds this season, appeared outmatched against the Suns’ tough defense. He also recorded nine rebounds and a staggering six turnovers during the game. “They were expecting everything that we did,” Wembanyama stated. “That makes everything hard for us.”
The Spurs found themselves down by as many as 31 points in the third quarter as the Suns shot an impressive 57.6% from three-point range. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson acknowledged the Suns’ dominance, saying, “I give a ton of credit to Phoenix. They were physical, they were competitive and set a tone from the jump.”
Second-year guard Stephon Castle led the Spurs with 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting. Castle emphasized the need for the team to provide Wembanyama with more space on the court to improve their offensive flow. “We’ve got to give him more space where he can see where the double teams are coming from,” he explained.
The Spurs will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for a critical matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. Wembanyama reflected on the loss as a potential wake-up call for the team: “I feel like we kind of needed this. It’s kind of a wake-up call for us. I’ll be happy to see how we respond on Wednesday.”
Adding to the Spurs’ challenges, rookie guard Dylan Harper, the No. 2 overall pick who averaged 14.4 points in the first five games, exited the game with a calf injury. Wembanyama expressed concern for his teammate, saying, “I hope the best for him, for sure. We’ve seen great things from him.”
As the Spurs head into their upcoming game, the implications of Sunday’s loss could resonate throughout the rest of the season. With Wembanyama’s recent struggles and potential injury issues, all eyes will be on the Spurs as they strive to bounce back.
