Victor Wembanyama returned from a 12-game injury absence on Saturday to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 111-109 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in an NBA Cup semifinal game in Houston.
The victory advanced the Spurs to the Cup final and handed Oklahoma City its second loss of the tournament.
Wembanyama, sidelined with a left calf strain, started at center and logged significant minutes. San Antonio used him as the focal point on both offense and defense, running plays through him in the post and on the perimeter, while he altered shots and contested drives in the paint. The Thunder kept the game close with perimeter shooting, midrange attempts, and contributions from both starters and bench players.
The semifinal featured lead changes throughout, with San Antonio gaining a narrow advantage in the final two minutes. The Spurs secured the win after Oklahoma City’s final shot attempt missed as time expired.
San Antonio will face the winner of the other semifinal in the NBA Cup final, a new in-season tournament within the regular-season schedule. Wembanyama’s return adds depth to the Spurs as they prepare for the championship game, while Oklahoma City will resume its regular-season schedule.
