Victor Wembanyama Reflects on Spurs’ Latest Collapse Against Rockets
Victor Wembanyama didn’t mince words after the San Antonio Spurs suffered a 111-106 defeat to the Houston Rockets, a familiar pattern for the team in recent weeks. The Spurs blew a 16-point lead and lost a three-game winning streak, with Houston outscoring them 29-14 in a decisive fourth quarter.
“Same as usual,” Wembanyama admitted. “We’re blowing leads of 15 points or more. The good thing is everyone recognizes the problem, and we’re all focused on fixing it. But there’s no denying it’s a real issue.”
The generational talent, who struggled offensively, finished with 14 points on 5-of-21 shooting, including 0-of-7 from three-point range. Despite the poor shooting night, Wembanyama emphasized that there are multiple ways to contribute. “I need to find ways to help my team even when my shots aren’t falling,” he said. “Sometimes it’s about making quicker passes, doing lob drags, or impacting the game in other areas.”
Wembanyama also reflected on his broader approach to the game: “Obviously, I wish I made more shots, but I have other weapons in my arsenal. When one part of my game isn’t working, I can still influence the game in different ways.”
This loss came shortly after Wembanyama learned he will start in the NBA All-Star Game for the first time, marking his second All-Star appearance overall.
When asked about Houston’s defensive strategy, Wembanyama noted it was nothing new. “They did what most teams do,” he said. Like teams such as the Phoenix Suns, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston used physicality to keep him out of the paint and rotated big defenders to contest his touches near the rim.
Blowing large leads has become a recurring theme for the Spurs. Just two games prior, San Antonio surrendered a 25-point lead against the Timberwolves before scraping out a win, and they also let a 19-point lead slip earlier in the week in Minneapolis. “There are a lot of small details,” Wembanyama explained. “But the main issue is that we’re rushing mentally on the court and sometimes overreacting.”
Despite the setbacks, the Spurs remain 30-14 on the season, second in the Western Conference, showing a significant turnaround after a two-year stretch marked by struggles. Wembanyama stressed the value of learning from failure: “Nothing helps you grow and mature like failure. We’re learning, we’re improving quickly, and even as a winning team, we’re taking in a lot of lessons to figure things out.”
With his leadership and unique skill set, Wembanyama remains a cornerstone of the Spurs’ resurgence, even as the team works to find consistency in closing out games.
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