Victor Wembanyama knows exactly what went wrong on the final offensive possession that saw his potential game-tying shot rejected by Amen Thompson, sealing the San Antonio Spurs’ 114-110 loss to the Houston Rockets on Friday night. It was a brutal way to end a tight game, and the Spurs star didn’t mince words about it in his postgame press conference. Asked what he would have done differently, Wemby’s response was direct: “I would have dunked the ball.”
The Play That Sealed the Spurs’ Fate
Picture this: Spurs trailing by a mere two points, just five seconds left on the clock, possession in their hands. The ball finds its way to Wembanyama in the paint. He makes a move to the basket, trying to get that crucial layup to tie it up. But out of nowhere, Amen Thompson meets him in midair, swats the attempt away, and that’s it. Ball game over. The Rockets walk away with the win.
What makes this sting even more? The sheer size difference. You have the 7’4″ Wembanyama going up against 6’7″ Thompson. Everyone watching probably thought that shot was money, but Thompson had phenomenal position. He stopped Wemby from getting close enough for an easy dunk, but let’s be real, with Wemby’s insane wingspan, a slam wasn’t off the table, even from a bit further out. It really makes you wonder if that power move would have been the right call.
What Could Have Been: Dunk or Drawing the Foul
Wemby’s own assessment, “I would have dunked the ball,” hits hard because he’s probably right. Think about it: if he went for the dunk, with that much force, he might have generated enough contact to draw a foul. Two free throws with the game on the line? That’s a huge opportunity to tie it up, maybe even win it, instead of leaving it all up to one blocked shot. It’s the kind of split-second decision that separates wins from losses, and it’s clear Wemby’s already learning from it.
Right now, though, those “what ifs” aren’t doing the San Antonio Spurs any favors. They are officially searching for answers, sitting at a disappointing 0-2 to start the season. This isn’t just a rough patch, either. This marks the first time they’ve lost back-to-back games in the regular season since way back on January 11-13 last season. That’s a trend they need to break, and fast.
The Spurs don’t have long to stew on this one. They’ll be looking to get their first win of the 2026-27 season on Saturday when they head to American Airlines Center to face off against the Dallas Mavericks. Every game is a battle, and they need to find their rhythm if they want to turn this early slide around.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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