VICTOR Wembanyama made a go-ahead free throw with 2.9 seconds remaining and De’Aaron Fox shined in his Spurs debut as San Antonio escaped with a 126-125 win over the host Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night (Thursday in Manila).
Fox, acquired from the Sacramento Kings on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) as part of a three-team trade that also involved the Chicago Bulls, poured in 24 points on 11-of-22 shooting and dished out 13 assists. One of his misses led to a Wembanyama putback dunk that put the Spurs up 125-123 with 30.4 seconds left.
Atlanta’s Trae Young sank a floater with 8.5 seconds remaining to tie the game, but Onyeka Okongwu fouled Wembanyama on the next possession. Wembanyama intentionally missed his second free-throw attempt, and Young followed with a 45-foot heave that was off the mark.
Wembanyama paired 24 points with 12 rebounds for the Spurs, who won despite getting outshot from the field (52.7 percent to 50.5 percent). Devin Vassell added 20 points and Jeremy Sochan supplied 15 off the bench as San Antonio won for just the third time in 10 games.
Young led all scorers with 32 points. He also had 12 assists but committed nine turnovers. Okongwu (30 points), De’Andre Hunter (22) and Dyson Daniels (19) also scored in double figures as Atlanta lost for the ninth time in its past 10 games.
In other games, it was the Thunder 140, Suns 109; Wolves 127, Bulls 108;
Wizards 119, Nets 102; Jazz 131, Warriors 128; Nuggets 144, Pelicans 119; Magic 130, Kings 111; Bucks 112, Hornets 102; Cavs 118, Pistons 115; Grizzlies 138, Raptors 107; and Heat 108, Sixers 101.
Thunder 140, Suns 109
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 50 points to lead Oklahoma City to a home win over Phoenix.
It was the third 50-plus-point game of Gilgeous-Alexander’s career, all of them coming over the past seven games. Oklahoma City got 17 points from Aaron Wiggins and 13 from Jalen Williams.
Bradley Beal, a big factor in Phoenix’s early success, scored 25 off the bench to lead the Suns. Devin Booker added 19 points, and Royce O’Neale had 18. r each put up 12 points.
