Victor Wambayama has triple-double to lead Toronto Raptors to victory over Toronto Raptors

Victor Wembanyama snapped a seven-game losing streak with a triple-double to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 122-99 win over the Toronto Raptors on Monday.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft finished with 27 points, 14 rebounds and a career-high 10 blocks for San Antonio (11-43). He also had five assists.

Devin Vassell scored 25 points for the Spurs, including five 3-pointers and six assists.

Rookie Grady Dick — selected 12 spots behind Wembanyama in last summer's draft — led Toronto (19-35) with 18 points and two rebounds.

Center Kelly Olympique also chipped in with 17 points, while Canada's RJ Barrett had 13 points and five boards as the Toronto Spurs struggled with their shooting on a deadly night from distance.

The Raptors shot 39.8 percent, including 25.8 percent from three-point range. San Antonio shot 52.9 percent from the field, including 36.7 percent from three.

The 19,800 fans at the Scotiabank Arena gave Wembanyama a standing ovation when he was introduced during his warm-up. The Frenchman was selected first overall by the Spurs in last year's draft. He lived up to those expectations in his rookie season, averaging 20.3 points, 10 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.

The 20-year-old Wembanyama made an immediate impact Monday, blocking Jacob Poeltl's first layup of the game, then nailing a three-pointer on San Antonio's first possession and getting a layup on the ensuing defensive line.

He gave San Antonio a 10-0 lead, and Toronto responded with a run of their own to tie it. The Spurs answered with eight more points, but they led 34-28 after only one quarter.

An 11-2 San Antonio run, including Vembanyama's five points and two assists, gave the visitors a 15-point lead. In the second quarter, the Spurs took a 67-50 advantage and led by 19 points.

San Antonio shot 62.8 percent in the half, including 53.8 percent (7-of-13) from beyond the arc. Toronto shot just 45.8 percent from the field and 25 percent (3 of 12) from three in the first two quarters.

The Raptors opened the third with an 8-3 run to close the gap, but San Antonio scored 11 straight points to extend their lead to 22.

Wembanyama grabbed an alley-oop dunk with 1:17 left in the third quarter that gave the Spurs a 100-70 lead and 30 points.

With 6:44 left in the fourth quarter and San Antonio leading by 27 points, Raptors head coach Darko Rayakovic began bringing out rarely used players like Jordan Nwora and Jontay Porter.

POPE'S LEARNING TREE — Rajakovic spent seven years with the Spurs organization, serving as a scouting consultant and NBA Summer League assistant coach from 2004-11. Spurs president and head coach Gregg Popovich said he was impressed with Rajakovic during his time in San Antonio.

“He's a serious guy. He's a detail guy. He goes down to simplicity. He doesn't miss a beat. He doesn't miss a step,” Popovich said before the game. “He's very confident in what it takes to win and what it takes to build a team, bring a team together and build a culture.”

NEXT UP — Former Raptors star Pascal Siakam and the Indiana Pacers travel to Toronto on Wednesday for his first game against his former team since being traded on Jan. 17.

The Spurs continue their road trip with a game at Dallas on Wednesday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on February 12, 2024.