From Victor Wembanyama’s historic night to thrilling comebacks and standout games, Thursday’s NBA action had it all. Here’s a breakdown of the most exciting matchups and player achievements.
Wembanyama’s Rare 5×5 Lifts Spurs Past Jazz
Victor Wembanyama bounced back impressively from one of his poorest performances to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 106-88 win over the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City. After scoring just six points the night before in a loss to Oklahoma City, Wembanyama made a statement with a remarkable stat line: 25 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, five blocks, and five steals.
This incredible showing marked the second time the 20-year-old achieved a “5×5,” making him only the third player in NBA history, alongside legends Hakeem Olajuwon (six times) and Andrei Kirilenko (three times), to do so multiple times. Wembanyama’s dominance on both ends of the court set the tone for San Antonio, with Chris Paul adding 19 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds.
The Jazz struggled without leading scorer Lauri Markkanen, sidelined due to back spasms. Collin Sexton led Utah with 16 points, but it wasn’t enough to counter Wembanyama and the surging Spurs.
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Booker’s 40-Point Game Sparks Suns’ Comeback Over Clippers
The Phoenix Suns staged a sensational comeback in Inglewood, California, overcoming a 21-point deficit in the third quarter to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers 125-119. Devin Booker was the hero of the night, dropping a season-high 40 points and spearheading the Suns’ charge.
Phoenix ignited their rally by making an astonishing 15 consecutive shots to open the second half. Royce O’Neale contributed 21 points, Kevin Durant scored 18, and rookie Ryan Dunn impressed with 16 in his second career start. Jusuf Nurkic added 11 points as the Suns extended their winning streak to three games.
Despite James Harden’s triple-double (25 points, 13 assists, 10 rebounds) and Norman Powell’s 23-point effort, the Clippers fell to 0-3 in their new Intuit Dome. Harden also reached a personal milestone, becoming the 20th player in NBA history to surpass 26,000 career points. Ivica Zubac had a strong outing with 22 points and 12 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to fend off Phoenix’s relentless offense.
Rockets Hold Off Mavericks in Fourth-Quarter Thriller
In Dallas, the Houston Rockets managed to withstand a furious late-game rally by the Mavericks to secure a 108-102 victory. Jalen Green led Houston with 23 points, including a clutch 3-pointer with just over a minute left to stabilize his team after Luka Doncic’s own big shot brought Dallas within three points.
Dillon Brooks and Alperen Sengun each added 17 points for the Rockets, with Sengun also matching Green’s game-high 12 rebounds. Contributions from Amen Thompson and Tari Eason off the bench were crucial, combining for 25 points and eight rebounds.
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Luka Doncic exploded for 29 points, with 15 coming in a highly efficient fourth quarter. Kyrie Irving was also instrumental, tallying 28 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Klay Thompson, who finished with 12 points, added eight of those in the final period to help fuel the Mavericks’ comeback attempt, but Houston held firm to clinch the win.
