San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) celebrates in the second half of an NBA game against the Atlanta Hawks at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Victor Wembanyama had 42 points and Chris Paul made a key four-point play late in regulation and a game-clinching 3-pointer with 20 seconds left in overtime as the San Antonio Spurs outlasted the Washington Hawks. Visiting Atlanta 133-126 in the NBA on Thursday.
With Atlanta leading by three points late in regulation, Paul made a 3-pointer, was fouled and made the free throw to give San Antonio a 119-118 lead at 56, 5 seconds left. Wembanyama made 1 of 2 free throws with 17.4 seconds remaining to make it a two-point game.
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The Hawks’ De’Andre Hunter opened the lane for a dunk over Wembanyama with 11.1 seconds left to tie the game. After a Spurs turnover, Trae Young missed a jumper contested by Wembanyama with two seconds remaining, sending the game into overtime.
Wembanyama’s 3-pointer with 1:52 left in overtime gave the Spurs the lead for good and was followed by a Keldon Johnson layup with 1:35 remaining to make it four-point advantage. Paul’s 3-point basket with 19.5 seconds remaining finished off Atlanta and clinched San Antonio’s third win in its last four games.
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San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) holds the ball away from Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) in overtime at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Devin Vassell added 23 points for the Spurs while Jeremy Sochan had 20, Paul finished with 12 and Keldon Johnson scored 11 points.
Hunter scored 27 points to lead Atlanta, which suffered its third loss in four games. Young added 23 points and 16 assists, Jalen Johnson scored 22 points, Larry Nance Jr. had 21 points and 13 rebounds and Clint Capela and Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 10 points each for the Hawks.
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The Spurs led 36-29 at the end of the first quarter. The lead changed hands five times in the second half, with the Hawks producing an 11-point advantage before pulling San Antonio to within 66-60 at the break.
Wembanyama scored 24 points to lead all scorers before halftime while Vassell added 10 for Spurs. Hunter and Nance, both coming off the bench, had 12 points to lead Atlanta going into the break.
The Spurs regained an 85-80 lead after Julian Champagne’s 3-pointer with 2:38 left in the third quarter. San Antonio led 90-87 heading into the fourth period. –Field level media
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