The San Antonio Spurs will look to build on their impressive start to the season when they host the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday in the first of two games between the clubs.
The teams also will meet Friday in an NBA Cup clash.
The Spurs have won three straight, including a rousing 121-117 decision in Chicago on Monday. Victor Wembanyama produced another highlight-reel performance, scoring 38 points, taking 12 rebounds and drilling the game-tying and go-ahead 3-pointers in the final minute in the victory.
Wembanyama’s showing made him the first player in NBA history with 35-plus points, 10-plus rebounds, five-plus assists, five-plus 3-pointers and five or more blocks in the same game.
De’Aaron Fox added 21 points for San Antonio, which outscored the Bulls 32-19 in the fourth quarter. Stephon Castle racked up a 19-point, 11-assist double-double, Luke Kornet scored 16 points and Keldon Johnson had 10 in the win.
The game Wednesday is the first of a five-game homestand for San Antonio, which is 5-0 at home on the season.
“We are where we want to be,” Wembanyama said, “I wish we’d won every single game, but in the long run, we are not going to go 82-0 for sure. And what I like is that we keep each other accountable. The coaching staff keeps us accountable. So I know we are only going to keep getting better. I’m also realistic that we haven’t played the best teams in the league yet.”
Wednesday’s clash is the second of a road back-to-back for Golden State. On Tuesday, the Warriors lost 126-102 loss in Oklahoma City, despite the return of Stephen Curry (ill) from a three-game absence.
Jonathan Kuminga led the Warriors with 13 points against the Thunder, with Jimmy Butler III adding 12, Curry scoring 11 and Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody hitting for 10 points each.
It was the third loss in the past four outings for Golden State, which trailed by 19 points at the break and was blown away in the third quarter when it was outscored by 16 points.
The Warriors’ Al Horford, 39, missed the game in Oklahoma City with a toe issue and injury management procedures but should be available on Wednesday. That means 35-year-old Draymond Green likely will not play in the second game of the back-to-back as Golden State works through a plan where it will have one of the two pivot players available while the other’s time is “managed” for consecutive games.
One of the early season surprises for Golden State has been the play of rookie guard Will Richard. The second-round draft pick from Florida is averaging 10 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 58.6% from the field and 43.8% from long distance to start his career.
Those stats are bolstered by a 30-point game in a 121-116 loss to Sacramento on Nov. 5 in his first career start.
“Early on in camp, you could see Will really knew how to play,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said of the 22-year-old. “He’s constantly making the right cut, the right pass, the right read. He’s solid. He’s going to contribute quite a bit for us this year.”
