The Milwaukee Bucks clashed with the San Antonio Spurs in Thursday night’s NBA action. It marked the second meeting between the teams this season and the first time Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama faced off against Milwaukee. Wembanyama, starting as the center, had the challenging task of defending against two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, one of the league’s top players.
Surprisingly, the rookie rose to the occasion, putting up an impressive performance. He scored 27 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and led the team with five blocks, including a crucial block in the final 30 seconds of the game. Earlier, he had another crucial block and made a game-tying 26-foot jumper. Despite Wembanyama’s efforts, the Bucks secured a 125-121 victory over the Spurs, who currently hold the bottom spot in the Western Conference. Nevertheless, Wembanyama’s standout display against one of the NBA’s best in just his 29th game made it a highlight of the season.
The Greek Freak vs. The French Freak
The first matchup between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama was unbelievable…with this sequence being one of the many moments that'll stick with me. Unreal. pic.twitter.com/8dEfguRXdK
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) January 5, 2024
In the third quarter, Wembanyama even caught Antetokounmpo off guard with a backdoor cut for a powerful two-handed dunk. Despite this, Antetokounmpo dominated with a game-high 44 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists, marking his fifth 40+ point game of the season.
After the game, it seemed Wembanyama did not shake hands with Antetokounmpo. Unfortunately, this was the last regular-season encounter between the two players. Antetokounmpo and the Bucks now head to Houston for a game on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET. Wembanyama and the Spurs, on the other hand, enjoy a few days off before hitting the road for two away games, starting with a Sunday afternoon matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers at 1 p.m. ET.
