Victor Wembanyama was not suspended for Game 5 of the NBA second-round series on Wednesday, and he made an immediate impact. In just 8 minutes and 40 seconds of the first quarter, the San Antonio Spurs star erupted for 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist, shooting an efficient 6-of-8 from the field to dominate the paint.
In the previous game, Wembanyama was ejected after receiving a Flagrant 2 foul for elbowing Rudy Gobert in the throat early in the second quarter, a turning point in the Spurs’ loss. But in this crucial Game 5, he avoided suspension and came out firing. He attacked the rim relentlessly, hitting outside shots, and threw down multiple powerful dunks. He also drew a flagrant foul on Gobert, who appeared to slide under him on a three-point attempt.
Wembanyama shot 6-of-8 from the field, 2-of-3 from three-point range, and 4-of-5 from the free-throw line, leading all scorers in the first quarter. His plus-minus of +13 was the highest on the court, helping the Spurs take a 34-30 lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves after the opening period.
