On Wednesday night, the Oklahoma City Thunder secured a 140-114 victory against the San Antonio Spurs, a result that wasn’t too surprising. However, the real excitement came from watching the matchup between rising stars Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren.
Wembanyama had another outstanding performance, recording 24 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and four blocks, even though his team couldn’t secure the win. Holmgren, on the other hand, put up a commendable performance with 17 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also played a pivotal role for the Thunder, scoring 32 points with 10 assists and six boards.
While their first meeting may have been a bit underwhelming, this matchup lived up to the hype, especially in the fourth quarter when Wemby and Holmgren went head-to-head.
This was *only* the first six minutes of the 4th quarter of Chet vs. Wemby tonight. pic.twitter.com/ciErBeoxVH
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) January 25, 2024
It’s inevitable that Wembanyama and Holmgren will be compared throughout their careers. Despite the individual talent, their teams are on different levels currently. The Thunder, with a 31-13 record, are already a legitimate playoff contender with a promising young roster. On the other hand, the struggling Spurs at 8-36 are in the early stages of a rebuild, relying on Wembanyama as a bright spot.
The Rookie of the Year battle between Wemby and Holmgren is something to keep an eye on, with Wembanyama currently seen as the frontrunner.
NBA fans can look forward to two more matchups between these teams this season. The Thunder hold a 2-0 advantage, but the highlight remains the Wemby vs. Holmgren showdown.
