Wembanyama keeps rewriting the script
Victor Wembanyama is still busily building his own version of NBA history, and Thursday night was his sharpest chapter yet. The San Antonio Spurs beat the Chicago Bulls 129-114, with the French star putting up 41 points, a new scoring high for him in the league, along with 16 rebounds, four assists and three blocks.
The Bulls were already out of postseason contention, which made this look less like a playoff chase and more like a scheduled appearance on the wrong end of a very large problem. Wembanyama made sure of that.
Fastest double-double ever recorded
The most striking part came before the game had even settled in. Wembanyama had already recorded a double-double in 8 minutes and 31 seconds, making him the fastest player in NBA history to reach the mark.
That breaks a record held by Jim Washington, who had stood alone since 1970. Washington reached double-digit figures in two statistical categories nine seconds later than Wembanyama did. In a league that loves its milestones, this was one of those rare ones that actually arrives with some drama attached.
San Antonio stays hot
The Spurs were in control for most of the night and have now won nine straight games. Wembanyama led the charge, but he was not entirely alone. Stephon Castle nearly posted a triple-double with 21 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists.
Wembanyama’s early domination also showed in the flow of the game. By the 20-minute mark, he was already up to 33 points, which is usually more than enough to ruin an opponent’s evening.
Standing still in second
With the win, Mitch Johnson’s Spurs improved to 57-18 and remained in second place in the Western Conference.
It was also one of those nights where the standings around them refused to cooperate. Both the teams chasing San Antonio and the Thunder, who lead the West, also won. So the Spurs got the victory, the record, and the headlines, but not much movement elsewhere. The schedule, as ever, remains committed to making life slightly more annoying than necessary.
