Wembanyama sets career records in Spurs win over Mavericks
The San Antonio star recorded a career-high 52 points and 24 rebounds in a 112-111 victory.
By Pedro Barnes ·
Victor Wembanyama stood alone at the free throw line as the clock ticked down, the scoreboard in San Antonio reading 112-111 in favor of the home team.
The French center finished a historic night against the Dallas Mavericks by scoring 52 points, grabbing 24 rebounds, and blocking eight shots. It marked a career-high in both points and rebounds for the Spurs star. The NBA confirmed that Wembanyama became the first player to record 50 points, 20 rebounds, and five blocks in a single game since Bob McAdoo in 1974.
The performance came after a shaky start to the 2026-27 season. San Antonio dropped its first two games, including a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on opening night, which fueled questions about the forward's trajectory in his fourth year. The team has responded by winning six consecutive games since that 0-2 start. Wembanyama has been a central figure in that streak, posting at least 36 points in three of the last four games. He has also recorded five or more blocks in four games this season.
In a postgame interview with the Associated Press, Wembanyama attributed the surge to recovering from an illness that had plagued him earlier in the month. "I haven't been feeling great lately," he said. "I've been sick for a while and today I felt like I got my legs back. So it should be more like this, more often."
Despite the historic numbers, the player acknowledged that his shooting was not at its best. He noted that forcing the issue at the rim is physically demanding over a long season. "My shots weren't falling tonight and that forces me into a style of play that is exhausting," Wembanyama stated. He added that he can be much better when his perimeter shooting is effective, noting that he knows it is a matter of time before that happens.
The statistics support his assessment of a rough shooting patch. Wembanyama is currently hitting 24% of his three-point attempts this season. From the mid-range, he has made 11 of 36 shots. His ability to dominate despite these inefficiencies has kept San Antonio competitive, though the team relies heavily on his ability to attack the basket when the jumper is cold.
The Spurs finished the night with a 112-111 win, extending their winning streak to six games. Wembanyama's performance stood as the latest example of his ability to control games regardless of shooting consistency.
