The host lights up the parquet of the Accor Arena in the first of the two NBA Paris Games. Eight more overseas matches are scheduled for the night
Just over five months after losing the gold medal at the last Olympic Games, Victor Wembanyama returns to the Accor Arena for the first of two NBA Paris Games. And he does it like a king. The number 1 San Antonio Spurs (20-22) leads his team to success over the Indiana Pacers (24-20) scoring 30 points with 62% from the field. Wemby was helped by Vassell and Barnes in a victory, 140-110, which broke a streak of three consecutive defeats. Indiana, which played on par for only two quarters, was overwhelmed in the second half. But in two days he will have the chance to make up for it.
WEMBY IS THERE
—
Fun and balanced first half, with many noteworthy actions on both sides. In the fourth minute of the game Siakam escapes Castle’s marking with a crescent movement and scores with the help of the scoreboard. Shortly afterwards Sochan responds with a dunk taking advantage of the space left by his opponents. The Pacers try a mini breakaway at the start of the second quarter with Mathurin supporting in transition, but the Spurs’ ball movement is fast and organised. So San Antonio, thanks to 22 assists (against Indiana’s 15), stays on pace and continues to find points. Wembanyama scores 15 with three triples, Vassell 14 and the Texans lead 60-57 at halftime.
THE SINKING
—
The San Antonio duo returns from the locker room possessed and in six minutes scores another 8 points. But it is Barnes who makes the leap in quality, scoring 10: first with a fake shot and a run to the rim, then with a triple following a suggestion from Wembanyama. The Pacers seem annihilated by the furious return of their opponents and continue to score baskets at an unprecedented rate. Johnson scores a three-pointer, Vassell immediately takes another and the Spurs reach +20 in an instant. The confrontation at the end of the third quarter is merciless: 45 points to 23. The Texans, however, do not stop at all and the French star shows off a bully move: in the area he removes himself from Haliburton’s marking with a shoulder shot, launches the ball on the backboard and collects it by dunking. Among Indiana’s ranks, the last to die are Mathurin and Siakam, who add 14 and 9 points to those scored in the first half. But the match becomes unrecoverable for coach Carlisle’s boys and in the last four minutes only the reserves play.
Indiana: Mathurin 24 (11/14, 2/5, 0/0 TL), Siakam 18, Turner 14. Rebounds: Siakam, Nembhard 4. Assists: Nembhard 8.
San Antonio: Wembanyama 30 (13/21, 4/11, 0/0 TL), Vassell 25, Barnes 20. Rebounds: Wembanyama 11. Assists: Jones 8.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED