Victor Wembanyama crushes the Bucks despite knee scare

Victor Wembanyama had San Antonio worried before blowing up Milwaukee. The French prodigy of the Spurs prevailed over the Bucks (119-101) in a game marked by an early scare and a remarkable offensive display.

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Jan 16, 2026

Tom Compayrot

A brief scare, an impressive performance

The start of the game sparked concern at the Frost Bank Center. After just three minutes of play, Wembanyama and Giannis Antetokounmpo collided during an action under the basket. The knee-to-knee contact sent the Frenchman to the floor, who got up with difficulty while holding his right knee before returning to the locker room limping.

This injury recalled his recent knee hyperextension that had kept him off the court. But Wembanyama returned at the start of the second quarter, greeted by roars from the Texas crowd. « A team effort, » emphasized the Frenchman after the game, downplaying his individual performance.

With his new look – a shaved head like during his visit to a Shaolin temple in China – Wembanyama delivered an offensive masterclass. He finished as top scorer with 22 points (including 15 from 3-point range with only one miss from deep), 10 rebounds and 2 blocks in just 22 minutes of play. His exceptional shooting from beyond the arc (5/6) allowed the Spurs to definitively pull away.

Spurs find their rhythm, Bucks collapse

San Antonio dominated proceedings after the break, inflicting a crushing 40-16 third quarter. Stephon Castle brilliantly supported Wembanyama with 19 points and 10 assists, while De’Aaron Fox added 18 points. This collective performance allowed the Spurs to lead by as much as 39 points.

« We can beat anyone and we’ve beaten almost everyone, but we’re too inconsistent, » analyzed Wembanyama. « We suffer from our own mistakes. We’ve made a lot of progress compared to the start of the season. We’ve raised our ceiling. Now we need to raise our floor. »

For Milwaukee, it’s a third consecutive loss that plunges the team deeper into crisis. Giannis Antetokounmpo, limited to 21 points and visibly frustrated, returned to the bench for good with ten minutes remaining. The Bucks (17 wins, 24 losses) now trail the Bulls, the last team qualified for the play-in in the East, by more than two games.

This victory allows the Spurs to reclaim second place in the Western Conference with 28 wins and 13 losses. Wembanyama and his teammates will host Rudy Gobert’s Timberwolves on Sunday, again at the Frost Bank Center.