Victor Wembanyama delivered a dominant 35-point performance in his NBA playoff debut, leading the San Antonio Spurs to a 111-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round series on Sunday night.
The 7-foot-4 French phenom set a Spurs franchise record for points in a postseason debut, surpassing Tim Duncan's 32-point mark from 1998, while shooting 13-of-21 from the field, including 5-of-6 from three-point range. While everyone was awestruck, his stunning performance also impressed the WNBA star.
Caitlin Clark joins NBA world in awe as Victor Wembanyama shines in record-setting playoff debut
Caitlin Clark captured the widespread reaction with a simple three-word tweet during the game. She had just one word to describe the Spurs player. The 24-year-old wrote on her social media account:
“Wemby is ridiculous.”
The Spurs pulled away in the second half thanks to their young core, with Wembanyama adding five rebounds, two blocks, and strong perimeter defense. Portland struggled to contain his unique blend of size, shooting, and mobility.
Meanwhile, Game 2 is scheduled for later this week as San Antonio looks to build on the momentum from their return to the playoffs after a seven-year absence, while Wembanyama is one of the three semifinalists for the NBA’s Most Valuable Player Award.
ALSO READ: NBA releases top three finalists for 2025-26 Most Valuable Player