Victor Wembanyama had one of the best games of his young career on Wednesday, scoring 50 points to propel Spurs past the Wizards. Washington trailed well in both halves, but fought hard to get close before falling, 139-130.

The signs that it would be a high-scoring night for Spurs and Wembanyama were there from the start, as they opened the match with three consecutive outside shots. Victor’s hot streak from beyond the arc continued and his two-way dominance was felt early. The big man patrolled the paint and Stephon Castle disrupted the perimeter, hindering a Wizard offense that was difficult to execute. San Antonio got a 16-point lead at one point in the opening frame, but unfortunately the second unit couldn’t maintain it. The bench made a few shots but lacked shot creation while Devin Vassell struggled and was terrible on defense at times, helping the visitors get back into the game. Jordan Poole got hot and the jumpers fell for Washington, which trailed by just one after the first 12 minutes.

Wembanyama remained a monster in attack, but struggled to contain Jonas Valunciunas in the second quarter. The two big men went at each other, with Wemby hitting threes and driving the slower Valanciunas and the Lithuanian center, using his weight, strength and touch to grab offensive boards and score inside. The Spurs were still in control and created some separation as Valanciunas went to the bench and put points on the board with cuts and timely drives, but once again the defense left a lot to be desired with Victor on the bench and the Wizards made most of the of it. What had previously been a lopsided game turned into a close game with San Antonio ultimately losing its slim lead and having to hit a last-second three-pointer to tie the score at 67 going into the break.

The Spurs, one of the best teams in the third quarter of this season, lived up to their reputation by creating tremendous separation in that frame, but it took a while. Wembanyama continued to dominate, but Jordan Poole and the other Wizards shooters got good looks and didn’t waste them. Stops were hard to come by and when Wemby went to the bench, San Antonio was only up by six. The second unit, who struggled earlier in the match, stepped up at the right time to put in a great performance that allowed the Silver and Black to go up by 21. The defense was also responsible for the push, which was a pleasant surprise. on a night where both teams did little to disrupt each other’s offenses. Wembanyama had 43 points heading into the fourth and everything seemed in place for a big win for Spurs.

Unfortunately, the Wizards had other plans. Wemby got his 50-point game and San Antonio was up by 19 when he checked out, but the comeback attempt began soon after. Poole continued to get to the rim at will and he found two other teammates who refused to give up in Valanciunas and Cory Kispert. Washington quickly closed the deficit to 10, forcing Mitch Johnson to send his starters back in. They took care of things, but not without some fear. At first, Chris Paul showed signs of pain as he held his wrist after a bad fall after a car ride, but it turned out not to be serious. Second, the Wizards fell behind as close as six points after a pair of misses from the line kept the door open for the upset. Fortunately, Spurs had the upper hand, despite making the end of the match more exciting than it should have been.

Game of the game

The bucket that gave Wembanyama his first, but probably not his last, 50-point game.

Game notes

• Wemby’s performance was sublime. The eight threes made on 14 attempts were impressive, but so was his willingness to ride after identifying the threat of his jumper. He also blocked three shots, converted many others and turned the ball over just once. Superstar material from the big man, who looks more confident than ever.
• Devin Vassell couldn’t find his three-point range (1-of-8 from outside), but still managed to score 17 points on 14 shots thanks to his six free throws. Spurs are slowly bringing Vassell back, but he has looked good so far.
• The reason why Mitch Johnson can afford to continue bringing Vassell off the bench and limiting his minutes is because Stephon Castle remains a solid starter. Castle could not keep Poole in front at times, but was disruptive in defense and judicious in attack. The rookie is more NBA-ready than expected.
• The forwards, Julian Champagnie, Harrison Barnes and Keldon Johnson, didn’t have great scoring nights, but put in a lot of effort on the boards. They combined for 18 rebounds on a night when Wembanyama pulled down just six.
• The second unit had trouble creating good looks, so it had to turn to the passage of Zach Collins for a spark, and he performed as a playmaker. The big man, who also pulled down seven boards in 16 minutes, dished out six assists, the second most on the team.
• Chris Paul helped immensely in the final moments. He not only made big shots, but also kept the team calm and the clock running. Paul needs to conserve his energy at this age, but when needed he steps up and his experience is invaluable for such a young team.
• Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley had efficient scoring nights and a pair of assists each. Many of their minutes will disappear once Tre Jones returns, but both young guards have done enough to show they can still carve out careers for themselves, even with some ups and downs.

Next match: Vs. Los Angeles Lakers Friday

The Spurs meet the Lakers in their first midseason tournament game. It’s also a chance to get above .500 for the first time this season.