SAN ANTONIO โ In a dramatic finish that will be remembered as one of the most significant moments of the San Antonio Spurs' season, Victor Wembanyama delivered a dagger from 17 feet with just one second remaining to lift the Spurs past the Phoenix Suns 101-100 on Thursday night. The stunning victory not only handed San Antonio a crucial win but secured their first playoff appearance in six years, ending one of the longest stretches of futility in franchise history.
Wembanyama's heroics capped a remarkable final-minute sequence that epitomized San Antonio's championship-caliber resilience. The dynamic French forward finished with an outstanding 34 points and 12 rebounds, showcasing the two-way brilliance that has made him the cornerstone of the Spurs' rebuilding effort. His game-winning pull-up over Phoenix defender Oso Ighodaro came after De'Aaron Fox's finger-roll layup had cut the Suns' lead to 100-99 with 26.6 seconds on the clock.
The final possession descended into chaos when Fox and Dylan Harper trapped Devin Booker between the sideline and halfcourt with 11.7 seconds remaining, forcing Suns coach Jordan Ott to call a timeout. San Antonio's defense continued to suffocate, with the Spurs immediately fouling on the inbounds pass. Rasheer Fleming's subsequent miss from the free-throw line proved costly, leaving the door open for Wembanyama to orchestrate his dramatic finish.
Beyond Wembanyama's stellar two-way performance, the Spurs received critical contributions from Fox, who added 23 points, and Julian Champagnie, who chipped in 14 points. San Antonio's fourth consecutive victory now positions them firmly in playoff contention as the regular season winds down, representing a dramatic turnaround from their years of mediocrity.
Phoenix's collapse in the final seconds overshadowed what had been a strong overall performance. Collin Gillespie led the Suns with 24 points, while Booker contributed 22 points in a losing effort. Despite the setback, the Suns remain in the seventh position in the Western Conference, still within striking distance of climbing higher in the playoff seeding.
The game's narrative shifted dramatically in the third quarter when San Antonio mounted a 19-11 run to seize a 71-70 lead, their first advantage since the closing minutes of the first quarter. Booker responded aggressively, scoring seven consecutive points to restore Phoenix's edge. The All-Star guard was particularly influential in the third period, recording 14 of his 22 points during that stretch.
Phoenix's impressive perimeter shooting had threatened to put the game out of reach early. Gillespie was electric from beyond the arc in the opening quarter, connecting on 5 of 7 three-pointers as the Suns built a commanding 39-28 lead. Phoenix's hot shooting continued into halftime, with the team connecting on 8 of 16 three-pointers.
The absence of Spurs guard Stephon Castle, who was ruled out an hour before tipoff due to right hip tightness, proved more consequential than initially expected. Castle's disruptive perimeter defense would have been valuable against Phoenix's backcourt, which shot a combined 15 for 34 from the field.
Looking ahead, the Suns will host Milwaukee on Saturday night as they close out their second six-game road trip of the season with a disappointing 2-4 record. Meanwhile, San Antonio will host Indiana on Saturday as they look to build momentum heading into what promises to be a crucial final stretch of the regular season.