Victor Wembanyama’s dominant 34-point performance led the San Antonio Spurs to a 128-115 victory over the Utah Jazz in Tuesday night’s NBA Cup matchup.
The French phenom dazzled with six three-pointers and shot 13-of-23 from the field, lifting San Antonio to a 10-8 record.
Rookie Stephon Castle added a season-high-tying 23 points for the Spurs, who showcased their passing prowess with 30 assists.
Julian Champagnie contributed 15 points, including three key fourth-quarter three-pointers that helped the Spurs seal the win.
Keyonte George led the Jazz with 26 points, hitting six three-pointers on 12 attempts. Collin Sexton and John Collins each scored 20 points, but the Jazz fell to 4-13 and were eliminated from NBA Cup contention.
Utah’s Lauri Markkanen, who struggled from beyond the arc with an 0-for-6 performance, exited the game in the fourth quarter after a collision with Wembanyama. Markkanen’s injury further hindered the Jazz’s offensive rhythm, as they managed just 22 fourth-quarter points.
Despite shooting 51.2% from the field, the Jazz were undone by 21 turnovers, continuing a season-long issue. San Antonio capitalized, converting Utah’s mistakes into crucial points during the game’s decisive moments.
Wembanyama also anchored the defense with seven rebounds and three blocks. Castle chipped in with five assists and solid playmaking, while Blake Wesley added 11 points off the bench.
For Utah, Brice Sensabaugh provided a spark with 16 points off the bench, and Walker Kessler contributed six points and seven rebounds. However, their second-half struggles from three-point range—just 4-of-14—allowed the Spurs to pull away.
San Antonio improved to 2-1 in NBA Cup play and looks poised for a strong finish in group play. Utah, on the other hand, will look to regroup as it faces another challenging stretch of the season.
