Victor Wembanyama shines on comeback as the San Antonio Spurs stun the Oklahoma City Thunder to reach the NBA Cup final

LAS VEGAS – Victor Wembanyama made a triumphant return from injury to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a stunning NBA Cup semi-final victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Dec 13 as the New York Knicks downed the Orlando Magic to book their place in the final.

French prodigy Wembanyama, who has missed the Spurs’ last 12 National Basketball Association (NBA) games with a left calf strain sustained in November, produced a dominant performance at both ends of the court to set up a thrilling 111-109 victory at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The 21-year-old finished with 22 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in 21 minutes, helping the Spurs overcome a 16-point second-quarter deficit to inflict Oklahoma City’s second defeat this season.

The NBA champions had gone into the game on the back of a 16-game winning streak, boasting a 24-1 record for the season that had prompted talk of them breaking the Golden State Warriors’ record of 73 wins during the 2015-16 regular season.

But after making a smooth start to control the game, Wembanyama began to make his presence felt off the bench in the second quarter to breathe new life into the San Antonio ranks.

“I knew I had limited minutes, so I had to make the most out of it,” Wembanyama said.

“Winning against a team like this, it might seem like it’s just a game but it’s a collective effort and it’s not an easy thing.

“It’s only their second loss of the season. It means something.”

Wembanyama was one of four San Antonio players to finish in double figures, with Devin Vassell scoring 23, and Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox adding 22 apiece.

“It says a lot. And it says a lot about where this team is going to be in the future,” he said.

Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder scoring with 29 points, while Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren added 17 points each.

In the other semi-final, Jalen Brunson scored 40 points to power the Knicks to their first NBA Cup final with a 132-120 win over the Magic. The Knicks’ in-form offence proved too hot for injury-hit Orlando as New York made it nine wins from their past 10 games.

“We came out here and did exactly what we said we wanted to do, which was play Knicks basketball,” said Karl-Anthony Towns, who backed Brunson with 29 points.

The Magic had led 36-33 after making a rapid start to a breathless opening quarter – earning the Knicks players some harsh and fiery words from coach Mike Brown in an early timeout.

“The way they came out, physicality-wise, we weren’t ready for it,” said Brunson.

“We bounced back and responded to that, and the way we played the rest of the game is a testament to that first timeout.”

New York went on a tear at the start of the second quarter, capitalising on a missed floating jump shot from Desmond Bane to take the lead through Josh Hart.

The Knicks briefly relinquished their advantage after half-time, when Bane put the Magic back ahead with a running lay-up.

But Orlando ultimately could not keep pace with Brunson, who left opposing guard Anthony Black sitting helplessly on the floor before executing a three-point step-back jump shot late in the third quarter.

Orlando’s Jalen Suggs managed a team-high 26 points, but failed to complete the game due to an apparent injury to his left hip.

The Magic also felt the absence of Franz Wagner, who is their leading scorer this season and has been sidelined with an ankle injury.

The NBA Cup, a mid-season knockout tournament now in its third year, is proving a hit with audiences and players.

It now offers a tantalising opportunity for the Knicks to win their first trophy since 1973. AFP