Spurs Take Next Step By Defeating OKC, Says Wembanyama

The San Antonio Spurs demonstrated their potential by defeating the top-ranked Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Cup, according to Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs will now compete against the New York Knicks in the NBA Cup final on Tuesday after securing a 111-109 victory over OKC. Wembanyama, coming off the bench for the first time, contributed 22 points in 21 minutes, along with two assists and nine rebounds.

Wembanyama has been carefully managing his recovery from a calf strain, with the team adopting a cautious approach to his return. During his absence, San Antonio achieved a 9-3 record. "Almost every night they have proven to me that I have nothing to worry about," Wembanyama said. "The brand of basketball we are playing, that they have been playing, just makes me proud because it's getting closer to the ideal basketball in my opinion. It's just beautiful to see."

In this match, Devin Vassell scored 23 points, while Stephon Castle and De'Aaron Fox each added 22 points. This performance marked the first time since March that four players from one team scored at least 20 points each. Castle expressed satisfaction with having all players available: "It felt good. This was our first game having everybody."

Wembanyama highlighted the difference between their team and Oklahoma City: "It's our first time playing [with] everybody [healthy]," he said. "We were already a solid team 20 games ago. It's just experience." He acknowledged that OKC is not only leading but also consistently performing well regardless of their opponents.

The Spurs are looking forward to their next challenge against the New York Knicks in the NBA Cup final. Wembanyama emphasized that understanding what it takes to win is crucial for their progress: "And this is our next step." He noted how OKC enjoys small victories that contribute to their success, which is something San Antonio aims to achieve.

Castle praised Wembanyama's impact on their recent victory: "I feel like we've been good in close games, crunch-time games, and having big fella back was definitely a plus." He attributed part of their success to Wembanyama's performance in the second half.

The Spurs are optimistic about their upcoming match against the Knicks as they continue refining their strategies and building on recent successes.