Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama makes playoff history not seen since Hakeem Olajuwon
The San Antonio Spurs suffered a minor scare in the first round against the Portland Trail Blazers when Victor Wembanyama went down with a concussion during a Game 2 loss. Wembanyama missed Game 3, but the Spurs were still able to regain control of the series with a win.
Now, thankfully for San Antonio, Wembanyama was able to return in Game 4 and is back to himself. He dominated Game 4 on the defensive end and helped close out the Blazers with another superstar performance in Game 5, a 114-95 Spurs win. Wemby only played 34 minutes in the win, but still finished with 17 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks.
The unanimous Defensive Player of the Year put up even bigger numbers in Game 4, with 27 points, 12 rebounds and seven blocks. In the last two games to close Portland out, Wembanyama became the first player since Hakeem Olajuwon to notch consecutive playoff games with 10 or more rebounds and six or more blocks, per the ESPN broadcast.
Wembanyama has been setting records, especially on the defensive end of the floor, all season long, so it doesn’t come as a surprise to see him continuing to do that in the playoffs. He started his NBA playoff career with a bang in Game 1, scoring 35 points in a dominant Spurs win.
While Wembanyama’s defense gets a lot of the praise, and deservedly so given what he can do on that end of the floor, his low-usage offense is a major asset to this Spurs team. On Tuesday night, Wembanyama scored those 17 points on just seven shots from the floor, which allows the Spurs’ guards to get involved.
They did just that, as all five Spurs starters finished the game in double figures. De’Aaron Fox led the way with 21, and Dylan Harper added 17 off the bench.
One of the Spurs’ strengths is their diverse scoring. While Wembanyama shuts down opposing offenses on one end, the Spurs do a ton of damage from all areas of the floor offensively. That will make them a very tough out no matter who they see for the rest of these playoffs.
The post Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama makes playoff history not seen since Hakeem Olajuwon appeared first on ClutchPoints.
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