Brunson’s 61 not enough to overcome Spurs in OT
LOS ANGELES: Sensational San Antonio rookie Victor Wembanyama scored 40 points and grabbed 20 rebounds to help the Spurs withstand a stunning 61-point performance from New York’s Jalen Brunson in a 130-126 NBA overtime victory over the Knicks on Friday.
French star Wembanyama became the first rookie to record a 40-point, 20-rebound game since Shaquille O’Neal had 46 and 21 in 1993.
The 20-year-old added seven assists, two steals and a blocked shot as he and the Spurs spoiled a career night for Brunson
– who finished one point shy of the Knicks’ franchise record of 62 points in a game, set by Carmelo Anthony in 2014.
Brunson notched the fifth-highest points total of this high-scoring season, but he missed a potential go-ahead three-pointer with 5.4 seconds left in overtime.
Wembanyama’s three-pointer with 1:12 left in overtime had put the Spurs up 128-124.
After Spurs guard Tre Jones made two free-throws with 1.1 seconds left, Wembanyama came up with a steal and it was over.
The Spurs, who won a third-straight game for the first time this season, scored 74 points in the first half and led most of the night.
But the Knicks, fueled by Brunson’s 38 second-half points, grabbed the lead for the first time when Donte DiVincenzo’s threepointer made it 113-112 with 4:39 left in regulation.
After a Wembanyama alley-oop dunk tied it at 119-119, Brunson drove for a basket that put the Knicks up 121-119 with 1:14 left in regulation, but Wembanyama made two free throws to force overtime.
“He’s pretty special,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said of Wembanyama.
In Denver, Anthony Edwards scored 25 points, Mike Conley added 23 and Rudy Gobert finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds in a convincing victory over the Nuggets.
Oklahoma City, fueled by 23 points from Josh Giddey, rolled past Kevin Durant and the Suns despite the absence of All-Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was again sidelined with a right thigh contusion.
Elsewhere, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George came through in the clutch for the Los Angeles Clippers, making back-to-back baskets in the final minute to seal a 100-97 victory over the Magic in Orlando.
The Houston Rockets shook off a slow start to push their winning streak to 11 games with a 101-100 victory over the Utah Jazz.
The Brooklyn Nets drilled 25 threepointers in a 125-108 home victory over the Chicago Bulls, tying the NBA record for treys in a half with 18 after the break.
In Miami, the Heat thrashed the Blazers 142-82 for the most lopsided victory in franchise history.