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Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama speaks up on playoff ‘chess match’ vs. Thunder
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- Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama speaks up on playoff ‘chess match’ vs. Thunder
Spurs' Victor Wembanyama speaks up on playoff 'chess match' vs. Thunder appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs tied the Western Conference Finals at 2-2 after c rushing the Oklahoma City Thunder, 103-82, in Game 4 at Frost Bank Center on Sunday.
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Wembanyama did not waste any time making his presence felt, scoring 25 points in the first half, including a buzzer-beater from halfcourt. He finished with a game-high 33 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two steals, and three blocks.
After their loss in Game 3, he admitted that he needed to do a better job of making his teammates better. He did that in Game 4, while also taking over and reminding the Thunder that they cannot easily take him down.
The 22-year-old center acknowledged that they will have to continue to study the defending champions, as the matchup is now down to a best-of-three.
"It's fun. It's very fun. In the playoffs, at some point, especially when the series drags on, everybody knows the other team almost by heart," said Wembanyama in the postgame interview.
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"It's different. I would say the coaches hold a lot of the load of the chess match. The strategy is a lot. The coaching staff does a lot of film. They work really hard."
The Thunder have given different looks to Wembanyama, including putting smaller defenders on him, challenging him to figure out defensive schemes.
It's worth noting that Wembanyama took a special interest in chess in the summer, even playing with total strangers in a park in New York. It was part of his offseason immersion, which also saw him learn meditation for several days in a monastery in China.
Everything has paid off for the 7-foot-4 star in his third year, earning Defensive Player of the Year and a nod to the All-NBA First Team.
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Wembanyama and the Spurs will watch the tape and try to sustain their momentum in Game 5 in Oklahoma City on Tuesday.
Related: Who are the nuns that blessed Luke Kornet before Spurs' Game 4 win?
Related: ESPN insider uses Spurs example to warn Rockets about roster blow-up
