Article content

Victor Wembanyama delivered for the paying customers in Toronto. And then some.

The Raptors did nothing close.

Article content

In one of the most dreadful performances of the season, Toronto got absolutely run over by the French phenom and the San Antonio Spurs 122-99.

Never mind the Spurs had dropped seven straight heading in and had close to a league-low 10 victories, Wembanyama was every bit as good as advertised. Couple that with a complete no-show from most of the Raptor and you’ll end up with the first 20-point, 10-block triple-double in the NBA since 2018 and the first by a rookie since Spurs legend David Robinson did it in 1990.

Wembanyama finished with 27 points, 14 rebounds, 10 blocks and five assists in 29 minutes, shooting 10-for-14 from the field. He exited with the game well in hand.

Article content

Gradey Dick went off for 18 points, including 4-for-5 shooting from beyond the arc, and Kelly Olynyk added 17, but Toronto’s starters were horrid with Scottie Barnes turning in one of the worst games of his career and Immanuel Quickley probably the worst.

Wembanyama quickly showed why he’s the NBA’s blocks leader when he swatted Jakob Poeltl early. Then he nailed a three-pointer. The game wasn’t even 30 seconds old, but the sequence foreshadowed what was to come.

There were huge dunks, ridiculous blocks, even a couple of passes top point guards would be proud of by the towering Frenchman, who is listed at 7-foot-4, but described as 7-foot-3 by Spurs beat writers. At times it looked like a man against boys, even though Poeltl stands a legit 7-foot. Wembanyama blocked his shots repeatedly and swatted Barnes several times for good measure.

Article content

His 27 points were the third most by a rookie in his first visit to Toronto, trailing only Brandon Roy’s 33 in 2008 and Stephen Curry’s 29 in 2010.

Toronto trailed the entire game and unlike in November in San Antonio they would not be rallying from a large deficit (22 then). The Spurs led by as many as 31 points and shot over 60% through three quarters. Meanwhile, the Raptors played little to no defence and struggled, aside from Dick, to hit from outside.

Toronto was coming off a home loss against Cleveland on Saturday, but had won two of three following losses in eight of nine.

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

Dick has now hit 15 of his last 26 three-pointers, but that’s about where the positives end for Toronto right now.

There’s no excuse to play so terribly against a team of San Antonio’s calibre. Careless, distracted, intensity free. The Spurs led 103-75 after three quarters and it was fully on merit.

Toronto will have to regroup for a reunion with Pascal Siakam on Wednesday when the Indiana Pacers come to town. After that, it will mercifully be the all-star break. It seems like a few Raptors have already gone on break, though.

X: @WolstatSun

Article content