Victor Wembanyama Carries Spurs To Comeback Win Over Bulls: 3 Takeaways From Competitive Battle

The San Antonio Spurs (10-2) got off to a rough start this season, losing their first two games. Ever since, however, they’ve been undefeated, proving themselves yet again as a legitimate title contender. Tonight’s 124-119 victory against the Chicago Bulls (1-9) marks nine straight wins for the reigning Western Conference champions , and it told us a lot about what to expect for the rest of the season. Unsurprisingly, Victor Wembanyama led all scorers with 32 points, nine rebounds, one assist, two steals, and five blocks on 72.2% shooting (2-6 from three). Behind him, Dylan Harper provided consistent support with 18 points, six rebounds, 20 assists, four steals, and one block on 38.9% shooting (2-4 from three). De’Aaron Fox , meanwhile, added 18 points, six rebounds, 10 assists, four steals, and one block on 4.2% shooting (2-7 from three). For the Bulls, 6’9″ center Jalen Smith led the way with 23 points, four rebounds, and three assists on 88.9% shooting from the field (5-5 from three). Caleb Wilson also had a solid showing, putting up 15 points, five rebounds, and one steal on 71.4% shooting (2-2 from three). Off the bench, Nic Claxton added 17 points, six rebounds, one assist, and one block on 83.3% shooting from the field. Coming off multiple off days, both teams were well rested for this matchup, and it showed in high-level scoring from both sides. In the end, however, despite shooting 57.9% as a team and winning the rebound battle (40-33), the Bulls made too many mistakes, allowing the Spurs to come back from a 22-point deficit. In a game like this, countless points can be taken, but here are three of the most prominent ones, mere hours after the clash:   1. Victor Wembanyama Deserves Early MVP Consideration Victor finished third in MVP voting last season, and he’s been even better in this campaign so far, averaging a career-high 30.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.1 steals, and 4.4 blocks per game on 52.9% shooting. Against the Bulls today, he finished with 32 points, nine rebounds, one assist, two steals, and five blocks on 72.2% shooting (2-6 from three). He was in a sweet rhythm on the floor, getting to his spots with ease and scoring on various defenders that the Bulls threw his way. Of course, his biggest impact came on the defensive end. While the Bulls seemed to hit everything from distance, Victor shut things down in the paint, using his size, skill, and athleticism to contest shots and control the glass. In the third quarter, his efforts helped the Spurs outscore Chicago by 15 points (34-19), putting them back in a game that was not going their way. In his fourth NBA season, nobody should be surprised at what Victor can do for his team, but he’s seemingly elevated his game beyond the highest expectations . Whether or not it’s sustainable is debatable, but it surely made the difference tonight, as the Spurs needed every point he gave.   2. Spurs Can Pack The Paint The first half was pretty abysmal for the Spurs, and shooting was the culprit. With nothing falling from distance, the Spurs changed their approach, playing with more intent to pack the paint and take the ball inside. The results were pretty devastating for the Bulls. Without a proper center to offer resistance, San Antonio scored 66 of their 124 points in the paint, overcoming the early offensive woes to overwhelm the competition. In the modern NBA, where three-pointers are considered the most valuable shot, driving the ball has become increasingly rare, which is why it’s so good that the Spurs can win even when the threes aren’t falling. Tonight, nobody on the team shied away from contact, and that constant pressure around the rim had the Bulls scrambling in the second half. In the end, the Bulls had their best shooting game of the season tonight, but it didn’t matter against a Spurs team that never quit. As Chicago eventually cooled off down the stretch, the Spurs maintained a steady rhythm in the paint, proving that they have multiple paths to victory.   3. Chemistry Is At An All-Time High It might be easy to forget, but the Spurs are still a relatively new contender. It’s only been a few years that this roster has been together, and young teams usually need more time before they can connect on a deeper level. This Spurs team is ahead of schedule, however, and their seamless chemistry was on full display in their latest win. Not only did they total 33 assists on the night (undefeated in games with over 30 assists), but they only committed six turnovers for the entire game, and one in the second half. It wasn’t against the best opponent, but the Spurs’ decision-making was on point tonight, showing how connected the players really are. Defensively, the Spurs were communicating all night long, even as the Bulls were lighting it up in the first half. Instead of panicking or giving up, they simply weathered the storm and then tightened up once the Bulls cooled off. Their best stretch came in the third quarter, when the Spurs opened it on an 18-3 run, fueled by five Chicago turnovers. The Bulls ended the game with 19, mostly due to active hands and a connected defensive effort that made it hard for them to generate a rhythm. On both ends of the floor, the Spurs are demonstrating a remarkable level of poise and focus . Coming off their Finals run last year, it’s not particularly surprising they’ve gotten even better, but they are borderline unbeatable when healthy, and it’s the kind of dominance that only a talented, united team can achieve.