The San Antonio Spurs’ loss to the Charlotte Hornets earlier in the season may have been one of the most disappointing losses of the year… at least if you ask Victor Wembanyama.
After the Spurs’ 115-102 win over Charlotte on their home court, Wembanyama told the Amazon Prime crew that the loss to the Hornets was his “worst defensive game.” It was clear that this game was a chance to make amends. Wembanyama dominated in response.
The star big man had 32 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, and 4 blocks. The Hornets scored just 30 points in the paint because Wembanyama had it almost completely walled off. While not an official stat, Charlotte may have had the most “nopes” I’ve seen against the Spurs in the Wemby era, completely abandoning drives several times in the same possession. On the other end, there wasn’t a single Hornet who could slow down Wembanyama. He could get a basket just about any time he wanted.
This game, despite being a somewhat inconsequential Saturday matinee, shows a lot about Wembanyama and the Spurs’ overall mentality. They want to win, and when they don’t, they take it personally. It was clear from the jump that the team remembered the sting of the earlier loss to Charlotte. That’s the mentality of a team ready to compete. When they lose a playoff game (and rest assured, they will), they can either let it rattle them or get motivated to win the next one. Saturday’s win shows that Wembanyama and his teammates have a winning mentality.