Wembanyama shines as Spurs and Knicks win in play-offsImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Victor Wembanyama recently became the NBA’s first unanimous winner of the defensive player of the year awardByBen CollinsBBC Sport journalistPublished12 minutes agoVictor Wembanyama shone as the San Antonio Spurs drew level in the NBA’s Conference semi-finals while the New York Knicks edged into a 2-0 lead.The Spurs are seeded second in the Western Conference and bounced back from a home loss in game one to thump the Minnesota Timberwolves 133-95 on Wednesday and level the best-of-seven series.
“I’m expecting this kind of response from myself, from my team-mates, so I’m not surprised by any means,” stated Wembanyama.
The France international added: “There is some ego. They assaulted us in game one, we wanted to assault [them] in game two.”
This season’s defensive player of the year claimed 19 points and 15 rebounds as the Spurs romped into a 59-35 lead by half-time – Minnesota’s lowest-scoring half all season.
It was San Antonio’s highest NBA play-off score since 1983 and they have not lost back-to-back games since 11 and 13 January, a stretch of 49 games.
Jalen Brunson led a late charge as the Knicks, third seed in the Eastern Conference, clinched a 108-102 home win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid was ruled out hours before tip-off because of right hip soreness and a right ankle sprain.
The game featured 25 lead changes – the most for a play-off game in 11 years.
Brunson scored eight of his 26 points in the fourth quarter as the Knicks pulled clear while Karl-Anthony Towns added 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Tyrese Maxey scored a team-high 26 points for the 76ers, who hope Embiid can recover in time for game three in Philadelphia on Friday.
