NBA playoffs news: Victor Wembanyama’s superior play keeps San Antonio Spurs in fight v OKC Thunder

A masterful return-to-form for Victor Wembanyama on the offensive end meant the San Antonio Spurs could overwhelm the Oklahoma City Thunder 103-82 in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals on Monday.

Wembanyama’s 33 points on 50% shooting was a game-changing comeback for the young French star, picking up eight rebounds along with dishing out five dimes.

With three blocks and two steals, Wembanyama’s impact to level the series 2-2 was the most notable of the game.

Vassell: Always ‘guard your yard’

Devin Vassell, who had 13 points and six rebounds in Game 4, spoke of the importance of not going down 3-1 ahead of Game 5 in OKC.

“You definitely don’t want to go down 3-1 going into their house,” Vassell said, quoted on ESPN.

“We knew we had to respond and that’s how you respond. You get stops. You don’t try and focus on the offensive end, you get stops, you get out of transition.

“You guard your yard and that’s what we did.”

Taking on the responsibility 

Wembanyama knew the Spurs bouncing back in Game 4 relied on him taking more responsibility on his shoulders to shift momentum in the series.

“We all have high standards and I know I have a lot of responsibilities, but I’m here for it,” Wembanyama said after the game.

“Yeah, it was better today. It wasn’t perfect. But, you know, all of us, I’m talking about the whole organization, so we’re going to have to do things that we didn’t sign up for.”

Regular season MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was kept under lock-and-key for the most part, struggling to impose his will as he did in Game 3.

The Thunder were held to 33% shooting and a woeful 18% from three-point range, which proved to be the main catalyst for their loss.

Action resumes between the one and two seeds in the West back in OKC on Wednesday for Game 5.

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