Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama gets FIRST win as an NBA player after shaking off slow start against rival Rockets with flurry of late highlights to push game to OT and finish with a double-double

Victor Wembanyama shook off a slow start for his first NBA win and double-double in his second regular season game for the San Antonio Spurs in a dramatic OT victory against the Houston Rockets.

The 7-foot French power forward, who can also play center, had 21 points and 12 rebounds in San Antonio’s 126-122 win over AT&T Center on Friday night. He had 16 points, eight rebounds and three blocks in the second half and overtime.

Devin Vassell scored 25 points and Keldon Johnson added 20 for the Spurs, who lost to Dallas in Wembanyama’s long-awaited debut on Wednesday and fell behind late in this game before the No. 1 pick helped them pull it out.

Wembanyama’s layout while being defended by Jabari Smith Jr. made it 111-111 and his jumper sent San Antonio on a 6-0 run to start OT.

Houston center Alperen Sengun scored 25 points, Fred VanVleet added 24 and Jalen Green had 22. The Rockets have dropped their first two games of the season.

The 7-foot forward had 16 points and eight rebounds in the second half and overtime

Wembanyama made crucial blocks at the end of regulation and contributed offensively in OT

The teams posted the worst record in the Western Conference last season at 22-60 and tied with Detroit for the top lottery odds. The Spurs won out to get the No. 1 pick and Wembanyama, while the Rockets selected Amen Thompson fourth.

Wembanyama went 7 for 19 from the field, including three resounding dunks. He also had back-to-back blocks on the same possession with two minutes left and Houston led 107-104. Wembanyama met Smith at the rim to block a dunk attempt and then rushed back onto the court to block Smith’s floater.

The Spurs bridged the third and fourth quarters with an 8-0 run after trailing by 10 points. San Antonio achieved seven revenue figures in the third quarter.

Wembanyama had five points in the first three minutes after a slow start in his NBA debut.

Wembanyama went 7 for 19 from the field, including three resounding dunks against Houston

DEFENSE: Wembanyama – the first-round overall pick of the NBA Draft – also had three blocks

Wembanyama made his first field goal attempt, a 10-foot fadeaway jumper over Dillon Brooks on the game’s opening possession.

After initially missing the 22-year-old Spurs big man running behind the defense, Johnson threw the ball into a crowd and Wembanyama grabbed it and threw it downfield.

Wembanyama would score just one more point in the first half as he went 2 for 10 from the field.

Next up: The Rockets played the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on Sunday, while the Spurs travel to the Clippers the same day.