|
|
|
|
Printable Page
06/03 23:24 CDT Wembanyama scores 26 but struggles from field in NBA Finals
debut as Spurs fall to Knicks in Game 1
Wembanyama scores 26 but struggles from field in NBA Finals debut as Spurs fall
to Knicks in Game 1
By TIM REYNOLDS
AP Basketball Writer
SAN ANTONIO (AP) --- Victor Wembanyama got blessed by nuns before the game, got
the loudest ovation when the starters were announced, pumped his fist to the
crowd a few times and generally seemed to enjoy his first taste of the NBA
Finals.
Until the ending.
The French star had 26 points in his finals debut, though had to work for all
of them --- misfiring on 15 of his 21 shots from the field, some of them even
hitting the top of the backboard, and seeing waves of New York defenders all
game long. The worst part of all for Wembanyama, the best defensive player in
the game, was seeing the Knicks score the game's final 11 points and steal away
home-court advantage with a 105-95 victory.
"I was bad tonight," Wembanyama said. "It's not more complicated than that."
He said it calmly, without panic, very matter-of-factly. The Spurs lost a game.
The series isn't over. He's not worried, yet.
"I would say that he definitely holds himself accountable," Spurs coach Mitch
Johnson said. "I expect he'll learn a lot of things from tonight's game and
come out with a good approach in Game 2."
There's been a history of that for both Wembanyama and the Spurs. They lost
home-court advantage to Portland in Round 1 before winning the final three
games of that series, lost home-court again to Minnesota in Round 2 after
dropping Game 1, and didn't even have the home-court edge against Oklahoma City
in the Western Conference finals --- a series where San Antonio trailed 2-1 and
3-2 before prevailing.
Then again, they're playing a Knicks team that hasn't lost since April. And
it's now June. New York is 12-0 in its last 12 games, and the Spurs now have to
try and beat them in four of the next six to win this title.
"Obviously, we've been down in a series before," Wembanyama said. "Never in the
finals, obviously. But I'm not kicking myself about anything really. I'm not
worried the slightest."
It's not a question if he can bounce back, or if the finals lights are too
bright. Wembanyama has handled everything that has been thrown his way since he
entered the NBA three years ago --- even the scare that came last year when his
season ended early because of deep vein thrombosis --- with what would appear
to be ease.
Beating the Knicks won't be easy. But Wembanyama finding a way to play better
on Friday in Game 2, that's to be expected.
"Players come along every once in a while that, in addition to having this
incredible skill, love the promotional side of it and want to play that role
for the league," Commissioner Adam Silver said of Wembanyama before the game.
"We saw the role he played at All-Star, even leading the other young players,
saying, let's take this seriously, this really matters."
Even going back to the years when the NBA was waiting for Wembanyama, Silver
has never wanted to say if he or the league has an expectation for him. The
reasoning is simple: There was, and is, enough pressure on Wembanyama. Silver,
to his credit, hasn't added to it.
"He came in highly touted. He was somebody who even before he came into the NBA
was blowing up the internet in terms of his highlights," Silver said. "Did I
have a specific expectation in terms of numbers of years it would take him to
get to the finals? No. But I would say, just trying to be an objective
observer, he's ahead of any timeline that people had in mind."
That may be true. He's just not ahead in the series. And Friday's test will be
a big one.
"We're all confident," Spurs guard Dylan Harper said. "I feel like that is kind
of who he is. He never backs down from the moment. He always kind of steps up
and meets it."
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
|
| Copyright DTN. All rights reserved. Disclaimer. |
|
