Still decisive, Joel Embiid was hit in the knee, when Wembanyama broke an early record with the Spurs who continued their series of defeats on Friday in the NBA.
NBA: Fear for Embiid, two records for Wembanyama
2023 MVP Joel Embiid had more fun with 38 points and 14 rebounds for a victory for Philadelphia against Atlanta (125-114). The Cameroonian scared himself by hurting his left knee. However, he remained on the pitch and was decisive in the final minutes when the score was close. “It just went a little wrong, we’re going to discuss it, I don’t know, it should be fine,” he said.
Stephen Curry's Golden State Warriors were beaten again after a close match, this time in Oklahoma City after overtime (138-136). With 34 points including 10 in overtime, Curry had to lose to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 38 points.
The two conference leaders won: Boston, in the east, got the better of the New York Knicks (133-123) and Minnesota, in the west, of the Memphis Grizzlies (127-103) with another great performance from French pivot Rudy Gobert (16 points, 20 rebounds).
The San Antonio Spurs suffered a 16th straight defeat against Chicago (121-112). They thus equal the franchise's sad record established last season, and remain last in the west (3 wins - 18 losses). Another record, more pleasing, the French prodigy Victor Wembanyama became at 19 the youngest player to achieve a "double" double-double with more than 20 points and more than 20 rebounds (21 points, 20 rebounds).
Title holders, the Denver Nuggets lost at home to Houston (114-106). Nikola Jokic was contained (23 points, 16 rebounds) against his young opponent Alperen Sengun (17 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists), presented at 21 as a clone of the Serbian pivot.