Wembanyama’s Triumphant Return Propels Spurs to NBA Cup Final | PRIMENEWSNOW

Victor Wembanyama returned from injury to propel the San Antonio Spurs into the NBA Cup final, securing a victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

After missing 12 games due to a calf injury, the French star scored 22 points, leading the Spurs to a thrilling 111-109 win against the reigning NBA champions in Las Vegas.

In his 21 minutes on the court, Wembanyama also contributed nine rebounds, two assists, and two blocks, as the Thunder suffered only their second defeat in 26 games this season.

“I knew my time was limited, so I had to maximize every moment,” said the 21-year-old Wembanyama, with teammate Devin Vassell adding 23 points.

“Defeating a team of this caliber is more than just a game; it’s a testament to our collective effort.”

“This marks only their second loss this season, which is significant.”

NBA Cup: A Mid-Season Showdown

The NBA Cup serves as the league’s annual mid-season tournament, with all games, except the final, impacting regular season standings.

Last season, the Thunder fell to the Milwaukee Bucks in the final, and their impressive 16-game winning streak was halted by the Spurs in this year’s competition.

Oklahoma City matched the best 25-game start with a 24-1 record after defeating the Phoenix Suns in the quarter-finals. However, they now hold the second-best start after 26 games, following the Golden State Warriors’ 25-1 record in 2015-16.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the current NBA MVP, led the Thunder with 29 points against the Spurs.

San Antonio is set to face the New York Knicks in the final, following their 132-120 victory over the Orlando Magic.

Jalen Brunson’s season-high 40 points fueled the Knicks’ win, with Karl-Anthony Towns contributing 29 points.

“We executed our plan perfectly, playing true Knicks basketball,” Towns remarked.