Spurs win as Wembanyama scores 52

San Antonio defeated the Dallas Mavericks 112-111 on Wednesday night, a victory secured by a dominant performance from Victor Wembanyama. The French center finished with 52 points, 24 rebounds, and eight blocks. This combination marks the first time since Bob McAdoo in 1974 that a player has achieved these specific milestones in a single game. The win extends San Antonio’s winning streak to six games.

The Spurs have improved to a 6-2 record after beginning the season with two losses. Wembanyama’s recent form contrasts sharply with his opening night performance. On the first day of the season, he went 1-for-13 from the field in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. That struggle prompted questions about his reliability. In a subsequent press conference, Wembanyama stated that he needed to return to playing the basketball he enjoys.

Since that initial game, Wembanyama has averaged 31.4 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 4.3 blocks over his last seven contests. He is shooting 52 percent from the field during that span. The Wednesday game against Dallas was particularly close. The Mavericks erased a 19-point deficit to tie the score with less than two minutes remaining. Wembanyama scored the Spurs' final seven points and 11 of their last 13. He sealed the win with a game-winning free throw.

His statistical output places him in rare historical company. Wembanyama is the fourth player in NBA history to record at least 200 points and 30 blocks through the first eight games in two consecutive seasons. He joins Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, and Patrick Ewing in that group. He is also the only player in league history to have multiple games with at least 40 points and five blocks before the age of 23.

The shift in Wembanyama's play is driven by a change in offensive location. Last season, he frequently operated from outside the three-point line. This season, he is taking five more shots per night than he did last year. Nearly all of those additional attempts come from inside the paint. Specifically, 42 percent of his field goal attempts are now from inside three feet, up from 33 percent last year.

This increased focus on the rim has resulted in an average of 5.1 dunks per game. At this pace, Wembanyama would exceed Rudy Gobert's NBA record of 302 dunks in a single season. The change is not defined by traditional post-up strength, but by intent and positioning. The Spurs have adjusted their offensive schemes to support this shift. The team now initiates pick-and-rolls lower on the floor.

These plays allow Wembanyama to use his length to turn near the rim rather than navigating from the perimeter. De'Aaron Fox noted that these actions allow Wembanyama to pop into the free-throw area for open jumpers. Although Wembanyama is currently shooting 28 percent from that range, the strategy also enables him to take off-the-backboard lobs to himself from closer distances. Wembanyama is also more willing to forgo settled three-pointers in favor of drives into the traffic.

His three-point shooting percentage has dropped to 24 percent this season. This contrasts with his previous career high of 50 points in 2024, which was fueled by eight made threes. On Wednesday, he made only one three-pointer. He converted 15 of his 20 shots from inside the arc. This aggressive approach to the paint has also led to more fouls drawn. Wembanyama made 19 free throws in the win over Dallas.