I could probably lead this newsletter by writing about Victor Wembanyama 82 times a year. Every night, he has some highlight-worthy play or unbelievable stat line that makes you question what is possible on the basketball court. I could very well turn this newsletter into WEMBY:AM, but I have to save my Wemby talk for when he does something truly absurd—like last night.
Wembanyama had one of the most impressive offensive displays you'll ever see in Tuesday night's game against the Lakers, putting up 37 points before halftime and finishing with 40 points in just 26 minutes. He went 13-for-20 from the floor, including 4-for-6 from three, and also had 12 rebounds. No player this season has scored more points in the first half of a game. It was also the highest-scoring first half by any Spurs player since the NBA began tracking play-by-play data.
Wembanyama was on fire right from the jump, scoring 17 of San Antonio's first 20 points. He finished the first quarter with 25 points in eight minutes, and he tacked on another 12 in the second quarter. His outrageous 37 first-half points came in just 18 minutes of playing time. His outburst allowed the Spurs to take an enormous 84–55 lead into halftime against a severely depleted Lakers team. (LeBron James, Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart all sat out due to injury.)
Wembanyama then took his foot off the gas a bit in the second half, scoring just three points in roughly eight minutes of action in the third quarter before Spurs coach Mitch Johnson pulled his starters.
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