Wembanyama Drops 52 and 24 With 8 Blocks as Spurs Edge Mavericks 112-111

Victor Wembanyama scored a career-high 52 points and grabbed a career-high 24 rebounds, adding eight blocks, as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Dallas Mavericks 112-111 on Wednesday, Nov. 4, according to AP via NBA.com and ESPN.

The full line, per Rotowire: 52 points on 16-of-28 shooting, 24 rebounds, two assists, two steals and eight blocks in about 34 minutes. That is a double-double with a heavy block count, not a triple-double. Eight blocks falls short of double figures.

A first half with no real precedent

Wembanyama had 29 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks before the break. According to NBC DFW, he became the first player since the play-by-play era began in 1996-97 to put up at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in a half.

He also made all 15 of his first-half free throws, tying James Harden's 2019 mark for the most in a first half without a miss in that era, per ESPN. Overall he went 19 of 23 at the line, and AP noted that seven of his made field goals were dunks. He was just 1 of 8 from 3-point range.

History in the box score

Yahoo Sports reports that only one other player had posted a 50-point, 20-rebound, five-block game: Bob McAdoo on Feb. 22, 1974. ESPN adds that Wembanyama's eight blocks are the most in a 50-point game since blocks became official in 1973-74.

He is also the first player with 50 points and 20 rebounds in a one-point win since Wilt Chamberlain in 1964, and the third ever, joining Elgin Baylor, according to ESPN.

The finish

Dallas erased a 19-point deficit and had a shot to win. Al Jazeera reports Wembanyama made the go-ahead free throw with 24.2 seconds left, and Kyrie Irving missed a contested turnaround jumper with 2.5 seconds to play. Irving finished with 29 points.

Wembanyama played through a virus and rolled his right ankle with 9:11 remaining, ESPN reports. He returned and scored 10 points down the stretch. The Spurs were plus-23 with him on the floor and minus-22 without him, per NBC DFW.

Dylan Harper added 21 points for San Antonio, and Stephon Castle had 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Where it fits

The Spurs have won six straight and swept a three-game homestand, per AP. Yahoo Sports lists them at 6-2. Wembanyama was named Western Conference Player of the Week three days before the game.

This was not his first 50-point night. ESPN notes he scored 50 against the Wizards in November 2024, making him the fifth player with multiple 50-point games at age 22 or younger. He is now 22. The crowd at Frost Bank Center chanted "MVP," according to ESPN.

His triple-doubles with blocks are a separate list: 27 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and 10 blocks on Feb. 12, 2024, and 11 points, 15 rebounds and a playoff-record 12 blocks in Game 1 of the 2026 West semifinals, per ESPN. Wednesday's game was a different kind of dominance.