Super rookie: Spurs’ Wembanyama towers for 10-block triple-double in 28 minutes

Victor Wembanyama became the first rookie in nearly 34 years to have a triple-double with blocked shots, leading the visiting San Antonio Spurs to a 122-99 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Monday night (Tuesday, February 13, Manila time).

Wembanyama amassed 27 points, 14 rebounds and a career-best 10 blocked shots. The only other rookies to post a triple-double with blocked shots in NBA history were David Robinson (three times in 1989-90) Ralph Sampson (1983-84) and Mark Eaton (1982-83).

Wembanyama contributed five assists and shot 10-for-14 from the floor.

Devin Vassell added 25 points for the Spurs, who ended a seven-game losing streak.

Jeremy Sochan scored 16 points for San Antonio, Keldon Johnson put up 12 points and Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley each finished with 10. Tre Jones had seven points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.

Gradey Dick logged 18 points and Kelly Olynyk recorded 17 for the Raptors, who have lost two in a row. RJ Barrett had 13 points and Jakob Poeltl and Bruce Brown each had 12 points.

The Spurs scored the first 10 points of the game — seven from Wembanyama — and led 34-28 after the first quarter.

San Antonio opened the second quarter with a 13-4 burst.

Wembanyama’s dunk with 6:37 left in the second gave San Antonio a 52-35 lead. The gap reached 19 on Vassell’s 3-pointer with 2:33 to play. San Antonio led 67-50 at halftime.

Wembanyama had 19 first-half points for the Spurs, who shot 62.8 percent from the field (27-for-43) before the break.

The Raptors hit 45.8 percent (22-for-48) from the field in the first half with Dick and Poeltl each scoring 10 points.

Barrett scored the first four points of the third quarter and Scottie Barnes added a 3-pointer to complete a 7-0 run that cut the Raptors’ deficit to 10.

Julian Champagnie’s dunk following Wembanyama’s blocked shot increased the lead to 15, and Sochan’s dunk bumped the advantage to 22 points with 5:57 to play in the third. The lead grew to 31 points, and the Spurs were up 103-75 by the end of the period. – Rappler.com