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Wembanyama returns from injury to spark Spurs victory
Victor Wembanyama made a triumphant comeback from a 12-game absence due to a left calf injury, propelling the San Antonio Spurs to a thrilling 111-109 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas.
Key performance in limited minutes
The 7-foot-4 French rookie, drafted first overall in 2023, scored 22 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and contributed two assists and two blocks in just 21 minutes of play. His efforts helped end the Thunder's 16-game winning streak and marked only their second loss in 26 games this season.
"I knew I had limited minutes so I had to make the most out of it. Winning against a team like this, it might seem like it's just a game, but it's a collective effort and it's not an easy thing,"
Victor Wembanyama
NBA Cup final showdown set
The NBA Cup, an annual in-season tournament, will see the Spurs face the New York Knicks in the final. The Knicks secured their spot with a 132-120 victory over the Orlando Magic, led by Jalen Brunson's season-high 40 points and Karl-Anthony Towns' 29 points.
"We came out here and did exactly what we said we wanted to do, which was play Knicks basketball,"
Karl-Anthony Towns
Thunder's historic start halted
The Thunder, who were defeated in last year's NBA Cup final by the Milwaukee Bucks, had matched the best 25-game start to a season at 24-1 before their loss to the Spurs. Their only other defeat this season came earlier in the campaign. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP, led the Thunder with 29 points in the semifinal clash.
What's next
The NBA Cup final between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks will take place in Las Vegas, with the winner claiming the in-season tournament title. All games except the final also count toward the regular season standings.
