Victor Wembanyama was the expected star of the first match of the NBA Paris Games between the San Antonio Spurs and the Indiana Pacers. The opportunity to watch the French phenomenon’s match in detail.
For the match report, click here
The attraction of the evening, and even of the week. Victor Wembanyama was able to test his popularity this evening at the Accor Arena. Returning after his teammates to receive a first round of applause, before taking the microphone just before the start of the match to warm up the room alongside the Canadian Bennedict Mathurin. Bercy was already conquered.
A little less by the first play of Spurs, a ball at the post obviously, but poorly executed against Myles Turner. But revenge was not long in coming block to remind who is the favorite for the Defensive Player Of the Year. We still had to wait more than four minutes to see the first basket of Wembley, on a mid range classic. The crowd finally exploded on their first three-pointer, and from then on, it was open bar.
In shooting, in passing, he led a 7-0 in less than a minute and showed its full impact before a first break. We could then see how much less slick the Spurs attack was without him. Lots of iso, while upon his return, his presence at the head of the racket opened up a shooting spot in the corner. Good overall address in the first quarter, before a more discreet period. And the conclusion was clear: when he was not involved in the game, the game was not transcendent.
But a ball in the back to bring down Turner accompanied by a big dunk, and the machine restarted. Enough to increase your score in all areas, with a magnificent pass to offer a three gift points to Chris Paul For example. But also multiplying the faults of the opposing defense, for whom defending on him was becoming more and more complicated. A final passage of two minutes, and already 15 points at the break.
-Indiana had clearly changed strategy upon returning from the locker room, switching all over the place to give space to Turner. But the attack suffered, becoming one-dimensional. The Pacers pivot wanted to avoid crossing paths with Wembley, who once again lit up the room with a big three-pointer, followed by a block, followed by a remarkably easy basket… the better to go and sit on the bench. However, this time, his team found offensive momentum in his absence.
And widened the gap without him, enough to put him back on the floor in the best conditions for the end of the third quarter. A combo block – alley oop pour Jeremy Sochan made the room vibrate, and the latter returned the favor to totally ignite an audience who was just waiting for that. One last putback as a buzzer beaterbut the problem was that the game was almost over at the end of the third quarter (+25).
Knowing that the match was heading towards a blow out, Wemby was then showered with balloons. Enough to create your own alley oop to enchant the Accor Arena, and trigger chants “MVP! MVP!” somewhat subdued, however. But those sung during his exit 6 minutes from the end were much louder. We would never see again Victor Wembanyamawho finished with a good line of stats, and above all, a really convincing performance. The Frenchman met expectations, and made the audience smile: professional work!
All the stats of the match on Flashscore
