Wembanyama Hits 52 Points as Spurs Edge Mavericks 112-111

Victor Wembanyama settled a one-point game at the free-throw line on Wednesday. His career-high 52 points carried the San Antonio Spurs past the Dallas Mavericks, 112-111.

A recovery night for Wembanyama

Wembanyama said he had not been feeling great and had been sick for a while. "Today I felt like I got my legs back, so it should be more like this more often," he said.

Dallas pushed back after the break, with Kyrie Irving leading the Mavericks on 29 points. The Spurs held on and now stand at 6-2.

The 52-point line in context

The French 22-year-old added 24 rebounds and eight blocks to his 52 points. His previous best was 50 points, set in 2024.

By the break he already had 29 points, 15 rebounds, five blocks and two steals.

No other player in 52 years has reached 50 points, 20 rebounds and five blocks in one game. He is also the fifth since 1982 to combine 50 points and 20 rebounds.

Knicks, Lakers and 76ers also win

The reigning champion New York Knicks posted their biggest win of the season, 135-105 over the Chicago Bulls. OG Anunoby scored 18 points, and the result lifts the team to 4-4.

Luka Doncic scored a game-high 40 points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 116-103 win over Sacramento, reaching 308 for the season. Nobody had passed 300 in the first eight games of a season since Michael Jordan, who had 303 in 1988-89. A fan was removed after throwing the ball at an official, who was struck while signalling a Lakers possession.

Philadelphia lead the league at 8-1 after a 112-106 win over Detroit, a meeting of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Jaylen Brown scored 30 points and Joel Embiid 26, all five starters reached double figures, and LeBron James added 13 points and 10 rebounds. Brown and James joined in the off-season, and James said it is too early to talk about the Finals.

Our view

San Antonio needed every one of those 52 points to win by a single point, which shows how much the result rode on one player. He said he had been sick, so his health over the coming games will matter.

Philadelphia's early lead, meanwhile, may owe a good deal to two new arrivals. Only nine games are played, so the next few results will show whether the 8-1 start holds up and how much of it comes from that pairing.

Source: BBC Sport