Victor Wembanyama’s half-court buzzer beater helped the San Antonio Spurs tie their series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Wembanyama called for the ball with the Spurs up by nine at the end of the second quarter. Building the lead felt urgent, with the Spurs down 2-1 in the Western Conference Finals to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Wembanyama only had time to reach half-court before the clock forced him to shoot. He hoisted the ball from 43ft as the buzzer sounded, and it went in. The Spurs completed a 21-point annihilation to tie the series, buoyed by that shot and the Thunder’s missed three-point attempts.
Wembanyama’s Key Plays
The buzzer-beater recalled Wembanyama’s long three in Game 1, which forced a second overtime. That shot was from 32ft, but was executed under more pressure. Other notable moments included Wembanyama’s backwards tap over his head and his blocks.
Thunder’s Bench Strength
The Thunder are the better and deeper team through four games of this postseason matchup. San Antonio’s starters have narrowly outplayed Oklahoma City’s, but the Thunder’s bench has proven stronger. Wembanyama’s talents have been required just to keep this series competitive.
Hartenstein’s Defence
In Game 1, Wemby produced a 41-24 double-double. Isaiah Hartenstein has minimised Wembanyama’s ability to get into the paint. Wembanyama had a milder performance in Game 2, and in Game 3, his voice in the paint felt quiet.
The Spurs’ astonishing Game 1 triumph felt like a pyrrhic victory because their starters played so many minutes.