Victor Wembanyama delivered one of the most extraordinary performances of the NBA season Wednesday night, scoring a career-high 52 points, grabbing a career-best 24 rebounds and blocking eight shots as the San Antonio Spurs edged the Dallas Mavericks 112-111 at Frost Bank Center. He shot 16-for-28 from the field and 19-for-23 at the free-throw line. According to league reporting, Wembanyama became the first player since Bob McAdoo in 1974 to record at least 50 points, 20 rebounds and five blocks in a game.
The Spurs star had already assembled 29 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks by halftime, a combination no player had reached in a half during the NBA’s play-by-play tracking era. Dallas fought back from a 19-point deficit and briefly led late behind Kyrie Irving’s 29 points, but Wembanyama answered with crucial baskets. His free throw with 24.2 seconds remaining broke a 111-111 tie, and Irving missed a contested jumper on the Mavericks’ final possession. Dylan Harper added 21 points for San Antonio, while Cooper Flagg finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds for Dallas.
The performance was more than a massive box score: San Antonio was 23 points better than Dallas with Wembanyama on the floor and 22 points worse when he sat, according to the game recap. The Spurs have now won six straight after opening 0-2. For a team looking to contend in the West, Wednesday offered a stark reminder of what its superstar changes at both ends of the court.