By RAUL DOMINGUEZ The Associated Press
SAN ANTONIO — A Clippers team playing on short rest was no match for an energized Victor Wembanyama.
Wembanyama closed out his historic month with 27 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three blocked shots in 26 minutes and set the tone with an explosive first quarter as the San Antonio Spurs rolled to a 122-86 victory on Tuesday night.
Wembanyama is the first player in league history with 300 points, 100 rebounds, 50 blocks, 50 assists and 40 3-pointers in a single month.
The Clippers were playing the second game of a road back-to-back set that started with a comeback win in New Orleans on Monday night. They never found their stride in this one, thanks in large part to the aggressive start by Wembanyama and the Spurs.
The 7-foot-3 French phenom scored 17 points in the first quarter, matching the Clippers’ total. The Clippers trailed by 25 points late in the first half, by 28 after three quarters and by as many as 41 in the waning moments.
The Clippers had won three straight but shot 34.5% from the field, including an 11-for-41 showing from 3-point range. James Harden led the Clippers with 17 points (13 in the first quarter). Norman Powell added 15 and Amir Coffey had 14, but center Ivica Zubac was held to five points on 2-for-7 shooting as the Clippers saw their three-game winning streak come to an end.
Keldon Johnson added 17 points and Stephon Castle had 15 for the Spurs. Harrison Barnes scored 11 as the Spurs won for the second time in three games and posted their largest winning margin this season.
The Spurs never trailed, scoring the game’s first six points and going ahead 18-8 on a Devin Vassell jumper with 5:12 left in the first quarter. Wembanyama scored nine of San Antonio’s final 11 points in the period, and the Spurs led 31-17 after 12 minutes.
San Antonio extended its advantage to 20 points on a Julian Champagnie step-back 3-pointer with 7:50 left in the second period. Wembanyama’s dunk off a Chris Paul steal and assist off the backboard with 2:04 left pushed the margin to 25 points before Powell’s layup with three seconds left brought the Clippers within 63-43 at the halftime break.
The Clippers never got closer than 19 points in the second half. The Spurs increased their lead to 86-57 on Johnson’s dunk with 3:22 left in the third quarter on their way to a 91-63 advantage heading into the final period.
San Antonio’s large lead allowed Wembanyama – who has at least one block and one 3-pointer in an NBA record 24 consecutive games – to take a seat on the bench for the final 8:39 of the fourth quarter.
San Antonio forward Jeremy Sochan did not play in the second half after injuring his lower back in the second quarter. He exited with 1:20 remaining in the first half with four points and five rebounds in 15 minutes.
The Clippers play at Oklahoma City on Thursday at 5 p.m. PT.
