New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson and San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama both had career nights on Friday night at AT&T Center in an overtime thriller that saw Gregg Popovich‘s side edge out the favorites.
Brunson, 27, scored a career-high 61 points on 25-for-47 shooting from the floor, the most attempts since Kobe Bryant‘s 50 shots in his final NBA game, which he finished with 60.
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Wembanyama, 20, recorded a career-best 40 points to go with 20 rebounds and seven assists, helping the Spurs overcome Brunson’s performance.
San Antonio beat New York 130-126 despite having no mathematical shot at even making the Play-In Tournament, but Popovich and Wembanyama are going to be a threat next season.
Jalen Brunson nearly breaks Carmelo Anthony’s record
Brunson finished one point shy of Carmelo Anthony‘s franchise record of 62 points set on January 2014, missing the 3-pointer that would have given the Knicks the lead with 5.4 seconds left in overtime.
He had the fifth-highest point total in the NBA this season and surpassed his previous career best of 50 points against the Phoenix Suns on December 15.
Knicks host the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have another rookie unicorn in Chet Holmgren, on Sunday night.
Victor Wembanyama is the new Shaquille O’Neal
Wembanyama scored a shot from beyond the arc to give San Antonio a four-point lead in OT and put up the first 40-point, 20-rebound game by rookie since Shaquille O’Neal in 1993.
He also had a blocked shot and a steal while recording his 39th double-double in 65 games, more than enough to lock up the Rookie of the Year award.
Spurs host the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night and are once again going to be underdogs looking to ruin another team’s final stretch of the regular season.
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