Spurs Week in Review: Wemby Returns, San Antonio Surges, and the NBA Cup Run Ends in Vegas
The San Antonio Spurs just wrapped up one of the most eventful weeks of their season - a stretch that included a deep NBA Cup run, the emotional return of Victor Wembanyama, and a dominant showing in regular-season play. Let’s break it all down.
NBA Cup Run Ends in Vegas, But Spurs Leave Their Mark
The Spurs entered the NBA Cup playoffs riding a gritty win in New Orleans - a game where they nearly squandered a 25-point lead but managed to hold on. That momentum carried into Los Angeles, where San Antonio stunned a full-strength Lakers squad on their home floor. It was a statement win, and they weren’t done yet.
In the semifinals in Las Vegas, Wembanyama made his return from a calf injury and immediately reminded everyone why he’s the centerpiece of this franchise. He carried the Spurs in the first half against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder and came up big in crunch time, helping San Antonio secure a second straight upset and a ticket to the NBA Cup Final.
But the magic ran out in the title game.
For 34 minutes, it looked like the Spurs were on their way to hoisting the Cup. They were executing offensively and keeping the Knicks at bay with just enough defensive pressure.
Then the wheels came off. A late third-quarter collapse turned into a full-blown unraveling, and the Knicks ran away with a 124-113 win.
After the game, Wembanyama shared that his grandmother had passed away earlier in the day. The subdued performance made sense in hindsight. Even so, his presence - emotionally and on the court - was felt throughout the week.
Back to Business: Spurs Dominate in Regular Season Return
The NBA Cup loss could’ve been a letdown moment. Instead, the Spurs responded like a team with something to prove.
119-94 win vs. Washington Wizards
Returning home briefly, San Antonio avoided a classic trap game against the struggling Wizards. After a sluggish first half, they turned it on in the third and never looked back.
Dylan Harper had a career night, and the blowout allowed head coach Mitch Johnson to rest his main rotation with another road game looming less than 24 hours later.
126-98 win at Atlanta Hawks
The Spurs hit the road again, continuing a brutal December travel schedule.
No problem. They dominated the Hawks from start to finish, led by Georgia natives Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell.
Wembanyama, still coming off the bench, added another strong performance. The win also completed a season sweep over a Hawks team whose first-round pick San Antonio has the right to swap - a subplot worth watching.
124-113 win at Washington Wizards
Facing the Wizards for the second time in three games, the Spurs again started slow but used a massive second quarter to build a cushion. Even with a relatively quiet second half, the outcome was never in doubt.
What We’re Learning About This Spurs Team
This is a team that’s figuring things out - fast. Let’s take a closer look at three key takeaways from the past week:
- The Closing Five Is Taking Shape
In the Cup Final, when the game got tight, the Spurs turned to a five-man unit of De’Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, and Wembanyama. That group was outscored 14-8 in the final 4:09, but it’s clear that this is the core the Spurs trust in high-leverage moments.
Expect to see more of this lineup as the season unfolds.
- Blowout Wins = Rest and Rhythm
In their three regular-season games after the Cup Final, the Spurs led each by at least 24 points. That’s not just dominance - it’s sustainability.
They had their full roster available for a Thursday-Friday back-to-back and came away with their two biggest wins (by combined margin) since opening night. That’s the kind of depth and conditioning that pays off in the spring.
- Wemby’s Impact Is Immediate and Massive
Since returning (off the bench) for four games that count in the standings, Wembanyama has logged just 81 minutes. In that limited time, the Spurs have jumped from 16th to 5th in defensive rating.
When Wemby is on the floor, they’re allowing just 88.3 points per 100 possessions. Yes, 39 of those minutes came against the Wizards, but the numbers speak for themselves - he changes everything defensively.
Power Rankings Check-In
- NBA.com (John Schuhmann): Up to No. 5 (from 6) OffRtg: 118.2 (6th) DefRtg: 112.2 (5th) NetRtg: +6.1 (7th) Pace: 101.1 (16th)
- The Athletic (Law Murray): No. 5 (from 6) The question about how the Spurs perform without Wemby has been answered with confidence. They were competitive when he sat, resilient when he was out, and now, with him back in the mix, they’re trending upward again.
- Clutch Points (Brett Siegel): No. 3 (from 4) San Antonio has scored at least 119 points in five of their last seven games. The offense is humming, and even when Wembanyama’s not on the floor, Fox, Castle, and Vassell have shown they can carry the load.
Looking Ahead: Thunder Rematch, Christmas Spotlight, and a Return Home
The Spurs and Thunder aren’t done with each other yet. Thanks to their NBA Cup semifinal clash, they’ll meet five times this season - all within a six-week span. The next two matchups come this week, starting with a home game on December 23 and a Christmas Day showdown in Oklahoma City.
It’s a big stage for Wembanyama, who dropped 42 points, 18 rebounds, and four blocks in his Christmas debut last year at Madison Square Garden. The Thunder will be looking for revenge after the Cup loss, and the Spurs may be looking to reintroduce Wemby into the starting lineup - a potential curveball that could shake things up again.
They’ll close the week against the Utah Jazz, finally returning home for consecutive games for the first time since mid-November.
Prediction: 2-1
Sweeping OKC is a tall task, especially on the road, but the Spurs should take care of business in at least one of those matchups. And with the Jazz coming to town, San Antonio has a great shot to end the week on a high note.
Bottom Line
This past week was a turning point. The Spurs made a run in the NBA Cup, showed they can win without Wembanyama, and then reminded everyone how dangerous they are with him. The chemistry is building, the rotations are tightening, and the young core is growing more confident by the game.
Don’t look now, but San Antonio is quietly becoming one of the most complete teams in the West - and they’re doing it ahead of schedule.