The 20- year- old Frenchman created history when he scored 50 points. The record was previously held by 20- year- olds Brandon Jennings, LeBron James and Devin Booker. The Spurs center scored 50 points in 26 minutes, including eight three- pointers, a record for him.
“You like to say you start your morning a special way or your warm- up is great, but in NBA games we have to play a game almost every other day,” said Wembanyama, who was the first player taken in last year’s draft.
“Every time we work in the warm- up, we hurt, we sweat, we bleed, and we have to fight for the game. So it’s minute- to- minute, every game is 48 minutes,” He further said that.
It was Wembanyama’s third straight game in which he made six or more three- pointers. The Spurs won even without their head coach Gregg Popovich, who suffered a mild stroke earlier this month but is expected to make a full recovery.
The contest was tied at 67-67 at halftime, but the Spurs went on a 23-6 run in the third quarter to make it 108-91. The Washington Wizards trailed by just five points in the final period, but time ran out.
For the Spurs, Devin Vassell scored 17 points, Julian Champagni scored 12 points, and Harrison Barnes, Stephen Castle and Blake Wesley scored 10 points each.
In the second game, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks scored a season- high 59 points to lead his team to a 127-120 overtime victory over the Detroit Pistons.
It was the ninth 50+ point game for Antetokounmpo, a two- time Most Valuable Player, and the second- best game of his career behind his 64- point performance last season against the Indiana Pacers.
The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 114-106 to record their 13th straight win of the season. They tied the feat of the Golden State Warriors in 2015-16 to achieve this record.
Darius Garland scored 25 points for the Cavaliers, while Donovan Mitchell had 23 points, nine assists and 13 rebounds.
In Los Angeles, LeBron James played a key role in a 128-123 win for the Lakers, recording his third straight triple- double. James had 35 points, 14 assists and 12 rebounds while Anthony Davis had 21 points and 14 rebounds.