SAN ANTONIO, United States — Victor Wembanyama returned from a first-quarter injury scare to record 22 points and 10 rebounds and lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 119-101 win over the Milwaukee Bucks in an NBA regular-season game on Thursday night in San Antonio.
The Spurs opened a double-digit lead in the first half as Wembanyama scored inside and from the perimeter against a Milwaukee defense that struggled to contain San Antonio’s frontcourt.
Stephon Castle contributed 19 points and 10 assists for the Spurs as he directed the offense and consistently created scoring opportunities for teammates.
Julian Champagnie added 13 points and 11 rebounds for San Antonio and helped the Spurs dominate the boards at both ends of the court.
San Antonio extended its advantage to 39 points early in the fourth quarter as its reserves maintained pressure on Milwaukee’s second unit.
The Bucks reduced the deficit in the final minutes after San Antonio rested its starters but failed to threaten the Spurs’ lead.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 21 points for Milwaukee as the Bucks absorbed their third consecutive defeat.
The loss marked Milwaukee’s second straight lopsided setback after a previous blowout defeat, which increased pressure on the team to adjust defensively.
Wembanyama briefly left the game in the first quarter after the injury scare but returned to the floor later in the period and played the remainder of his minutes without visible limitation.
Spurs coaches monitored Wembanyama’s status after his return and kept him on the bench during portions of the fourth quarter with the outcome already decided.
San Antonio controlled the tempo for most of the game and repeatedly converted second-chance opportunities created by its rebounding advantage.
Milwaukee struggled to establish consistent offensive rhythm beyond Antetokounmpo’s production and failed to match San Antonio’s efficiency from the field.
The Spurs used balanced scoring from starters and bench players to maintain their lead and limit Milwaukee’s comeback attempts.
San Antonio’s defense forced contested shots on the perimeter and protected the paint, which held the Bucks under their usual scoring average.
The teams played the game as part of the NBA’s regular-season schedule, with both franchises seeking momentum in their respective conference standings.
Arena officials reported a strong home crowd turnout in San Antonio, and fans responded loudly to Wembanyama’s return after his early injury scare.
The Spurs’ victory added another strong performance to Wembanyama’s season as he continued to post double-double numbers in points and rebounds.
Milwaukee players and staff prepared to review game film and address defensive coverage issues before their next scheduled contest.