NBA 2024-25 Roundup: Victor Wembanyama Leads Spurs with Rare 5×5 Performance Against Jazz
NBA 2024-25 Roundup Updated: The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Utah Jazz 106-88 on Thursday night in Salt Lake City thanks to a rare 5×5 effort from Victor Wembanyama, who demonstrated his tenacity.
The 20-year-old Spurs center returned with an outstanding stat line of 25 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 blocks, and 5 steals, just one day after scoring a career-low six points in a defeat to Oklahoma City.
Wembanyama has now achieved a 5×5 for the second time; just two other NBA greats, Andrei Kirilenko and Hakeem Olajuwon, have done so more than once. Kirilenko did it three times, and Olajuwon did it six times. Chris Paul, who finished with 19 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds, and two steals, was another standout player for San Antonio. The Jazz’s top scorer, Lauri Markkanen, was sidelined by back spasms, while Collin Sexton led with 16 points.
Devin Booker scored a season-high 40 points to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 125-119 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in Inglewood, California. Phoenix extended its winning streak to three games after overcoming a 21-point deficit in the third quarter. Royce O’Neale, who scored 21 points, and Kevin Durant, who scored 18, helped Booker’s clutch performance. Jusuf Nurkic scored 11 points, and rookie Ryan Dunn also made an impression with 16 points in his second start.
With 25 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds in a dominant performance for the Clippers, James Harden became the 20th player in NBA history to reach 26,000 career points. However, despite impressive performances from Ivica Zubac (22 points, 12 rebounds) and Norman Powell (23 points), the Clippers lost 0–3 at their new $2 billion Intuit Dome.
The Houston Rockets defeated the Dallas Mavericks 108-102 after Jalen Green scored 23 points to lead the club in a Texas matchup. In the closing minutes, Green made a clutch three-pointer in response to a three-pointer from Luka Doncic that had reduced the Rockets’ lead to three points. Alperen Sengun matched Green with 12 rebounds, while Dillon Brooks and Sengun each scored 17 points.
Doncic led the Mavericks with a game-high 29 points, including 15 points in a fourth-quarter surge, despite a heroic effort. Despite Kyrie Irving’s 28 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, Dallas’ comeback was ultimately unsuccessful.
The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 122-99 thanks to a triple-double from Ja Morant, who finished with 26 points, 14 assists, and 10 rebounds. With 19 points and nine rebounds from Santi Aldama plus strong performances from Jaylen Wells, Scotty Pippen Jr., and Jaren Jackson Jr., the Grizzlies ended a two-game losing streak.
Even though Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis scored 12 and 11 points, respectively, and Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 37 points and 11 rebounds for Milwaukee, it was unable to overcome Morant’s outstanding performance.
These outstanding NBA performances highlight the tenacity, talent, and pure excitement that characterize the 2024–25 season and make for an exciting evening.
