Victor Wembanyama returned from a one-game absence to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 115-102 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday at Frost Bank Center.
The 7-foot-4 center finished with 32 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists and three blocks, helping San Antonio win its 17th of the last 19 games.
The Spurs improved to 49-18, holding second place in the Western Conference, 7.5 games ahead of third-place Houston and three games behind Oklahoma City for the top spot.
Wembanyama missed Thursday’s 136-131 loss to Denver with a sore right calf but made an immediate impact Saturday.
He posted 18 points, eight rebounds, two blocks and two steals in the first half, establishing San Antonio’s early control.
A highlight came early in the second quarter when Wembanyama lost an alley-oop attempt, hit the rim, and finished with a follow-up dunk that pushed the lead to nine.
He shot 13-for-24 from the field and 5-for-10 from three-point range, extending his hot streak to 46.9% from beyond the arc over the last five games.
Stephon Castle added 15 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, while De’Aaron Fox contributed 17 points and six boards. Keldon Johnson chipped in 13 points off the bench.
Charlotte briefly led 13-10 early in the first quarter after a 27-foot runner from LaMelo Ball, but Julian Champagnie’s three-pointer tied the game 15 seconds later, and the Spurs never trailed again.
Miles Bridges scored 22 points and Kon Knueppel added 20 for the Hornets, who had won eight of their last 10 games before falling to 34-34.
Ball finished with 17 points and four three-pointers, but Charlotte shot just 38% from the field and 33% from three, limiting its comeback chances.
San Antonio closed its longest homestand of the season at 5-1, with the only loss coming when Wembanyama was sidelined.
The Hornets host Miami on Tuesday, while the Spurs travel to face the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.
