SAN ANTONIO (AP) 鈥� Victor Wembanyama had a career-high 40 points and added 20 rebounds and seven assists, and the San Antonio Spurs overcame Jalen Brunson鈥檚 career-best 61 points to beat the New York Knicks 130-126 in overtime on Friday night.
Wembanyama made a 3-pointer to give San Antonio a four-point lead in OT. He had the first 40-point, 20-rebound game by a rookie since Shaquille O鈥橬eal had 46 points and 21 rebounds on Feb. 16, 1993. The No. 1 pick in the draft also had a blocked shot and a steal while collecting his 39th double-double in 65 games.
鈥淚鈥檝e never seen so much greatness before,鈥� Wembanyama said. 鈥淭he season has been going on for just some months. I鈥檝e just witnessed so much greatness and I want to be a part of it. I always wanted to, but more and more seeing that I鈥檓 already able to compete with those guys. I鈥檓 not near, but I鈥檓 on the right path. I know it and I鈥檓 going to get there and soon.鈥�
Brunson finished one point shy of Carmelo Anthony鈥檚 franchise record of 62 points on Jan. 24, 2014, missing a 3-pointer that would have given the Knicks the lead with 5.4 seconds remaining in OT.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great, but it鈥檚 washed out with the window with the loss,鈥� Brunson said. 鈥淪o, it doesn鈥檛 really matter.鈥�
Brunson had the fifth-highest point total in the NBA this season.
鈥淗e鈥檚 special,鈥� Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo said. "I think he鈥檚 an All-NBA talent. Even if we didn鈥檛 come away with the win tonight, I think what he did tonight showed you that he鈥檚 one of the best guards in the East. Every single night, whatever it takes to win, he does that. Tonight, it was almost.鈥�
After stealing the ball in the final seconds to seal the victory, Wembanyama let out a huge scream in celebration and threw the ball into the stands. Will he pay for the souvenir?
鈥淣ah,鈥� Wembanyama said, laughing afterward. 鈥淪omebody else is going to.鈥�
As they should, considering Wembanyama鈥檚 contributions in leading the Spurs to their first three-game winning streak of the season.
鈥淗e鈥檚 going to be one of the greatest players this game has seen,鈥� Brunson said. 鈥淛ust the way he鈥檚 built. What he鈥檚 been able to do so far. I have a lot of respect for him.鈥�
Devin Vasell added 23 points for the Spurs (18-56), who are three victories from surpassing the worst record in franchise history of 20-62 set in 1997.
New York took its first lead at 113-112 with 4:39 remaining in regulation on a 3-pointer by DiVincenzo. There were five ties in the final minutes of regulation to set up overtime.
DiVincenzo finished with 20 points and set the Knicks鈥� single-season record for 3-pointers with 245.
New York (44-29) fell a half-game behind Cleveland (45-29) for third in the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers beat the Philadelphia 76ers 117-114 on Friday.
Brunson surpassed his previous career best of 50 points against Phoenix on Dec. 15. The Knicks needed of all his heroics after an uncharacteristic poor defensive effort from Tom Thibodeau鈥檚 team.
After holding their previous 10 opponents to 93.4 points per game, including three under 80 points, the Knicks gave up 74 points in the first half to the Spurs.
鈥淭hey stayed strong when New York made a heck of a run,鈥� San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. 鈥淭o me, that鈥檚 the best part of the game. It shows that progression in what it takes to win a game in the NBA.鈥�
San Antonio was a point shy of its season high of 75 points in the first half against Phoenix on Nov. 2.
Wembanyama alarmed the Spurs and their fans when he went limping off the court favoring his right leg with 6:24 remaining in the first quarter. He limped back to the locker room a minute later. After a tense five minutes, Wembanyama came sprinting back to the bench with two minutes left in the first quarter.
Wembanyama made the first attempt upon his return, a driving, scoop layup under Mitchell Robinson鈥檚 arm a minute into the second quarter.
The Spurs did lose Jeremy Sochan, who exited in the second quarter with a sore left ankle.
San Antonio led by as many as 13 in building a 38-27 lead in the opening quarter. It marked the first time the Spurs have scored 38 points in the opening quarter since Dec. 28, and they are 3-1 when scoring 38-plus.
鈥淲e give them confidence and they were just rolling from the beginning,鈥� Brunson said. 鈥淚 think we played well the rest of the game. We fought. They went on runs; we went on runs. We just kept on fighting, but at the beginning of the game just didn鈥檛 do good.鈥�
UP NEXT
Knicks: Host Oklahoma City on Sunday night.
Spurs: Host Golden State on Sunday night.
Raul Dominguez, The Associated Press
