Spurs’ Mitch Johnson celebrates Victor Wembanyama for ‘mature’ showing vs. Timberwolves appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama probably felt that he let the team down when he was ejected in Game 4 of their second-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Spurs lost, 114-109.
But instead of sulking and beating himself up about it, he refocused for Game 5. The result? A 29-point beating of the Timberwolves at Frost Bank Center on Tuesday. They are just a win away from advancing to the conference finals for the first time since 2017.
Wembanyama had game-highs of 27 points, 17 rebounds, and three blocks. He also had five assists and shot 9-of-16 from the field, including two three-pointers.
It was a strong response from the 22-year-old star, who was tossed in the second quarter of Game 4 for elbowing Naz Reid in the neck. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson had high praise for Wembanyama after Game 5.
“The one word I would like to use is ‘mature.’ I think there’s a lot that happened in the last 48 hours and the last game,” said Johnson in the postgame conference.
“I think the way that young man came out tonight and played in a variety of ways, in a variety of situations, not just in terms of his production, was extremely mature.”
Wembanyama only played 12 minutes in Game 4, tallying four points, four rebounds, and two turnovers. He was criticized on social media and was questioned by pundits.
He simply dusted them off.
Wembanyama has stayed mum on his ejection, choosing to hone in on their mission instead, noting that “the job is not finished.”
The Spurs can dispose of the Timberwolves in Game 6 at Target Center on Friday.
Related: Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama refuses to dwell on controversial elbow
Related: Spurs’ Dylan Harper breaks Derrick Rose’s record in Game 5 Timberwolves takedown
