The Spurs beat the Kings 130-103 at home, built a 28-point cushion and won a second straight game. Victor Wembanyama had 29 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks, and Julian Champagnie hit 8 of 13 threes off the bench.
When did this one actually turn?
Not right away. Sacramento ran off eight straight in the opening period to go up 23-22, and that one-point edge was its best moment of the night. San Antonio answered and took the period 39-29. Midway through the second, a 12-0 burst stretched 48-38 into 60-38 and forced a Spurs timeout to reset. It was 80-54 at the break. All four lead changes and the lone tie came before that run.
How good was Wembanyama, really?
Efficient and clean. He went 14 of 21 from the floor and 0 of 3 from deep, with 29 points, 10 rebounds, two steals, five blocks and zero turnovers in 27 minutes, finishing +22. Grade: A. Domantas Sabonis still produced 18 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists, but Sacramento was -17 with him on the floor. The missed threes are the only quibble, and everything inside the arc worked.
Who else earned a grade worth noting?
Champagnie gets an A: 26 points in 25 minutes off the bench, 8 of 13 from three, one turnover. Dylan Harper gets an A-minus: 13 points on 6 of 7 shooting, six rebounds, six assists and the team's best mark at +23 in 30 minutes. Stephon Castle gets a C-plus: 15 points and five assists, offset by 4 of 11 shooting and three turnovers. Harrison Barnes was the lone minus, -1 in eight minutes.
Did the rotation tell us anything?
The starters scored 82 and the bench 36. Mitch Johnson finished the final five minutes with Carter Bryant, Keldon Johnson, De'Aaron Fox, Champagnie and Luke Kornet, long after the outcome was settled. Fox was tidy at 3 of 6 for 11 points, six assists and a +22. Vassell added 14 points and eight assists, hitting 4 of 7 from deep. Harper's minutes have climbed by about eight a night over the last three games, and this showed why.
Where does 2-2 leave them before Utah?
Eighth in the West with two straight wins, one game behind sixth-place Minnesota at 3-1 and a half game clear of 11th. The Jazz are 1-3, have dropped two in a row and beat the Spurs 119-109 on Oct. 12. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic are out for Utah, and Lauri Markkanen is dealing with a right wrist issue. Keyonte George, at 22.8 points and 7.8 assists, is the guard to slow.
Who led the Spurs in scoring against the Kings?
Victor Wembanyama led with 29 points and 10 rebounds. Julian Champagnie added 26 off the bench.
When do the Spurs play the Jazz?
The Spurs visit Utah on Oct. 28, then host the Jazz on Nov. 2.
