NBA Playoffs: Victor Wembanyama says he ‘needs to be a team player’ as San Antonio Spurs suffer back-to-back loss to Oklahoma City Thunder | NBA news
Victor Wembanyama said he “must be a team player” after the San Antonio Spurs lost 123-108 to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night, to take a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference finals.
The Spurs are now on a seven-game losing streak, despite opening their postseason campaign with a doubleheader against Oklahoma.
Wembanyama was playing in the game, scoring 40 points, and the 22-year-old continued to play well on Friday, scoring 26 points in 39 minutes on the court.
It was the first time since Tim Duncan in 2007 that a Spurs player scored 20 or more points in three consecutive games. But, despite his brilliance, the Thunder came from behind to score 15 points at the Frost Bank Center.
“My first playoff game. It was the first time for many of us,” said Wembanyama. “Yes, there were going to be tough trials. It’s to be expected. But now, we’re going to see what we’re made of.”
Although he made eight baskets in this game, Wembanyama criticized his performance, saying that he let his teammates down.
The Spurs got stronger as the game went on, and questions have begun to surround the depth of the Spurs off the bench
“I have a problem making my teammates better right now,” said Wembanyama. “I have to do better. My shooting separation is not bad. I need to be a team player.”
Asked what he meant by that, Wembanyama replied: “Do better, tie the ball better.”
“Push the defense little by little, so I can continue to fight and see how willing they are to help my teammates and feed them.
“I feel that each of us has to be better.
“As a team, as an organization, there’s a lot of new things happening. We’re going to have to find answers.”
The Spurs’ lack of depth off the bench was once again revealing
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the standout for Oklahoma City, with 26 points and 12 assists.
The Spurs jumped out to a 15-0 lead in the first three minutes of the game, the most by a team in the beginning of an NBA Playoffs game since 1997.
But the Thunder bounced back, scoring 76 points off the bench, and Jaylin Williams came on the court to make two long-range baskets and a free throw to push the Spurs to within five points at the end of the first quarter.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the one who stood out in Oklahoma City, collecting 26 points and 12 assists, as Jared McCain also stood out with 24 points that left the Spurs surprised.
The Spurs deteriorated as the game wore on, and questions were being asked about the depth of Mitch Johnson’s side from the bench.
Oklahoma’s bench outscored San Antonio’s 107-28 in the first two games.
“I feel like we all have to be better,” said Wembanyama when asked about Spurs’ problems with the rotation.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama, left, reacts while being defended by Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren
“Which means that as a group, as an organization, a lot of new things are happening, we have to find answers.
“Of course there will be difficult trials. That is to be expected. But now, we will see what we are made of.”
Oklahoma’s victory came as Josh Hart scored a game-high 26 points to lead the New York Knicks to a victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, and the Knicks now need just two wins to secure their first NBA Finals berth since 1999.
The winners of the Western Conference Finals will go on to face the Cleveland Cavaliers or the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals.
Watch the NBA Playoffs live on Sky Sports, Spurs and Thunder game four will take place live on Sky Sports Main Event at 12.30am on Monday. Don’t have Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
