Victor Wembanyama scored 34 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 101-100 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday at Frost Bank Center. His 17-foot, pull-up jumper with one second left sealed the Spurs’ return to the playoffs after a six-season absence.
De’Aaron Fox added 23 points, and Julian Champagnie contributed 14 in San Antonio’s fourth straight win. The Spurs trailed late but mounted a furious rally in the final minute to secure the top-six finish in the Western Conference.
Collin Gillespie led Phoenix with 24 points, and Devin Booker added 22, including 14 in the third quarter. The Suns remain seventh in the West and closed a six-game road trip with a 2-4 record.
Fox cut Phoenix’s lead to 100-99 with a finger-roll layup with 26.6 seconds remaining. A timeout by Suns coach Jordan Ott set up a final possession, but Wembanyama dribbled down the clock before hitting the decisive jumper on Oso Ighodaro’s coverage.
Stephon Castle was ruled out an hour before tipoff with right hip tightness, and his absence was felt defensively as Booker and Gillespie combined to shoot 15 of 34. The Suns shot 42% overall and 31% from three, while San Antonio converted 42% of field goals and 29% from deep.
Phoenix opened strong, leading 39-28 with Gillespie hitting 5 of 7 from beyond the arc. San Antonio responded with a 19-11 third-quarter run to take a 71-70 lead, their first since the first quarter, and stayed competitive through the fourth.
The Spurs limited Phoenix to 37 rebounds while controlling 42 themselves, with key defensive stops in the closing seconds preventing a comeback.
San Antonio will host Indiana on Saturday, while Phoenix returns home to face Milwaukee. The win solidifies the Spurs’ position in the Western Conference and ends a multi-year playoff drought, marking a milestone for the franchise.
