After five electric wins to open the season, the San Antonio Spurs finally hit a wall in Phoenix. Their star center, Victor Wembanyama, who’s been dazzling fans and critics alike, stumbled for the first time this campaign, and so did his team.
The Spurs fell 130–118 to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night, marking their first defeat of the season. It wasn’t just a loss; it was a thud back down to earth.
The 7ft 4in Frenchman, who’s been at the heart of San Antonio’s resurgence, managed only nine points on 4-of-14 shooting. He grabbed nine rebounds but also turned the ball over six times.
For a player averaging more than 30 points and 14 rebounds coming in, it was a surprisingly quiet showing.
“They were expecting everything that we did. That makes everything hard for us,” Wembanyama said
The Phoenix Suns came prepared and physical. Wembanyama never quite settled, struggling to find space inside as the Suns crowded him in the paint. Their defensive plan, crafted by first-year coach Jordan Ott, worked almost to perfection.
The Spurs’ defense, on the other hand, couldn’t contain Phoenix’s hot shooting. The Suns nailed 19 of their 33 three-point attempts, a blistering 57.6%. By the third quarter, the Spurs were down by 31 points, and the game was all but over.
Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson didn’t hold back in his post-game assessment.
“I give a ton of credit to Phoenix. I think they imposed their will on the game. They were physical, they were competitive, and they set a tone from the jump in a variety of ways. Their physicality with our players was definitely part of that,” Johnson said
Despite the setback, there were a few bright spots. Sophomore guard Stephon Castle led the team with 26 points, showing composure and aggression throughout. But even he acknowledged the team’s shortcomings.
“We’ve got to give him more space where he can see where the double teams are coming from. We’ve watched film on this, we’ve just got to do better,” Castle said.
And then came the honesty that only comes from frustration.
“I feel like we kind of needed this. I feel like we were starting to get a little comfortable. This is kind of a wake-up call for us. I’ll be happy to see how we respond on Wednesday.”
San Antonio’s next challenge? The Los Angeles Lakers, a test that could define their bounce-back ability.
There was more bad news for the Spurs. Promising rookie Dylan Harper, the No. 2 overall pick, limped off with a calf injury. He’s been averaging 14.4 points per game and has quickly become a fan favorite.
“I hope the best for him, for sure,” Wembanyama said. “We’ve seen great things from him; it’s actually been hard to believe how good he’s played. But it happens, we have to be able to deal with injuries.”
For Wembanyama, this was just one off night in what’s otherwise been an extraordinary comeback story. After missing most of last season due to a life-threatening blood clot in his shoulder, he’s returned looking stronger and more driven than ever.
Still, Sunday served as a reminder, even for the Spurs’ new superstar, that success in the NBA comes with growing pains.
A wake-up call? Certainly. But for a team this young and talented, it might be exactly what they need.
