The Spurs were playing without All-Star point guard De’Aaron Fox in Monday’s thrilling Game 1 victory at Oklahoma City, but the team is optimistic he’ll be available for Game 2 of the Western Conference finals, sources tell Marc J. Spears of Andscape (Twitter link).
San Antonio pulled off a double-overtime against the defending champion Thunder on Monday. Dylan Harper, last year’s second overall pick, started in place of Fox and had a stellar game, finishing with 24 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and seven steals in 47 minutes.
According to the NBA (Twitter link), Harper became just the second rookie to record at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and five steals in a playoff game since 1973/74, when steals became an official statistic. He joined three-time MVP and five-time champion Magic Johnson, who accomplished the feat in 1980.
As impressive as Harper was, his performance was overshadowed by a spectacular showing from Victor Wembanyama, who had 41 points, 24 rebounds, three assists and three blocks in 49 minutes. The 22-year-old center joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in league history to have 40-plus points and 20-plus rebounds in their conference finals debuts (Twitter link via the NBA).
Wembanyama, who was a game-high plus-16 in the seven-point win, admitted afterward that he was motivated by the pregame ceremony awarding Shai Gilgeous-Alexander his second straight MVP trophy.
“I want to get that trophy,” said Wembanyama, who finished third in MVP voting (Twitter link via Dan Woike of The Athletic).
The French star said he was understandably tired after setting a new career high in minutes, tweets Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News. However, a few minutes before that he said the Spurs would have time to recuperate in the offseason if they reach their ultimate goal.
“We’ll rest in July,” Wembanyama said, per Orsborn (Twitter link).