Spurs conclude 6-year absence from playoffs with Wembanyama’s decisive shot.
SAN ANTONIO — With 9.7 seconds remaining and a packed audience at Frost Bank Center holding their breath, Victor Wembanyama assessed the defense, moved to his right, and took a dribble before sinking the shot that secured the Spurs’ first playoff appearance since 2019.
Wembanyama hit a go-ahead 17-foot fadeaway over Oso Ighodaro with just 1.1 seconds left, leading San Antonio to a 101-100 victory against the Phoenix Suns. This shot marked Wembanyama’s first successful go-ahead basket in the final five seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime in his career, following five unsuccessful attempts, as noted by ESPN Research.
“We understand that it’s rarely going to be an open shot,” Wembanyama stated. “In this scenario, it’s important to be patient. If you shoot too early, regardless of whether you make or miss it, you risk giving the defense a chance to grab the rebound and have time to respond. Therefore, it’s best to shoot as close to one or two seconds left. This way, we have an opportunity for an offensive rebound if we miss, and if we make it, they won’t have time.”
Wembanyama concluded the game with a leading 34 points, along with 12 rebounds and three steals for San Antonio, which became the second NBA team to secure a playoff spot, following Oklahoma City, which achieved this on Tuesday. This performance marked Wembanyama’s 11th game of the season with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds, ranking fourth in the NBA and the highest for a Spurs player since the 2003-04 season, when Hall of Famer Tim Duncan recorded 13 such games.
In the rush to return on defense after his go-ahead shot, Wembanyama collided with a courtside fan, resulting in red wine spilling onto his shorts. As Devin Booker’s last-ditch shot fell short at the buzzer, Wembanyama untucked his jersey near halfcourt while teammate Dylan Harper approached to give him a light shove.
“It was overwhelming to process everything happening around me,” Wembanyama remarked, still adjusting the left leg of his wine-stained shorts. “I had fans focused on me. I had this guy spill wine on me. There was a lot going on. I didn’t notice all my teammates coming over for a moment, so it felt like I was being swarmed.”
Nevertheless, Wembanyama raised both arms in celebration as the team gathered around the Spurs’ drum on the court to commence San Antonio’s postgame victory festivities. As Wembanyama engaged the crowd of 18,648, teammate Keldon Johnson took the microphone to initiate an MVP chant.
“I wasn’t sure what I was going to say,” Johnson, the longest-tenured Spur, noted, having been drafted 55 days after the team was eliminated from the first round of the 2019 playoffs. “I just knew we needed to get on the mic. He deserves recognition. He’s performing at that level. He’s been our leader both on and off the court. I’ll be the one to step up and say what needs to be said. And that is: ‘Victor Wembanyama, MVP.’
In a contest that saw six lead changes and three ties, San Antonio was behind for most of the game after initially taking the lead. The Spurs finally equalized at 70-70 with 3:55 remaining in the third quarter, having played from behind throughout the entire second quarter.
With 4:50 left, Phoenix had established another 10-point lead when Booker assisted Khaman Maluach for a dunk. From that moment, Wembanyama scored seven points, while point guard De’Aaron Fox contributed nine of his 23 points as San Antonio finished with a 16-5 run that overshadowed Collin Gillespie’s 24-point performance, supported by Booker’s 22 points.
“We were essentially behind the whole game,” Fox stated. “Just being able to close the gap from six to ten points throughout the game and then pull it off in the final minutes was significant for us.”
San Antonio holds a record of 20-2 since February 1, the best in the NBA during that timeframe. The Spurs have finally ended their longest playoff drought (six seasons) in franchise history. Prior to this recent stretch of struggles, San Antonio had never missed the postseason in consecutive seasons.
“I’m pleased for the city, the community, and the organization,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson expressed. “Being part of that journey is fulfilling.”
Wembanyama, for his part, credited Fox, the inaugural recipient of the NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year award, for anticipating “what the defense would do, so [he] kind of guided me on what to do” for the go-ahead jumper that clinched the victory.
“Yes, we had our play set up,” Fox explained. “We had a clear side, and I asked if he wanted someone in the corner because when you have a clear side, teams tend to shift. It draws more help. So, he indicated he wanted someone there. Therefore, I suggested, ‘Well, let’s place a shooter there.’ So, we positioned [Devin Vassell] in the corner to ensure they wouldn’t help off him. He took his time, found his spot, and made the game-winning shot.”
