San Antonio Spurs Rookie Victor Wembanyama Breaks Single-Game Block Record

Victor Wembanyama made history last night at the AT&T Center, recording 14 blocks in the San Antonio Spurs' 118-95 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. The 20-year-old French center surpassed the previous single-game block record of 12, jointly held by Elmore Smith (1973) and Mark Eaton (1985).\n\nWembanyama's defensive masterclass began early in the first quarter when he swatted away three consecutive shots from Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons. By halftime, the 7-foot-4 rookie had already recorded 8 blocks, putting him within striking distance of the historic mark. The Trail Blazers struggled to find any rhythm in the paint, shooting just 28% from inside the arc.\n\nThe record-breaking moment came with 3:47 left in the third quarter when Wembanyama denied a layup attempt from Jusuf Nurkic, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich called an immediate timeout to celebrate the achievement, with Wembanyama receiving a standing ovation from the San Antonio faithful.\n\n'I've been dreaming of moments like this since I was a kid watching NBA highlights in France,' Wembanyama said post-game. 'To break a record that has stood for over 50 years is incredible, but what matters most is that we got the win as a team.' The rookie also contributed 22 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists in the comprehensive victory.\n\nWembanyama's historic performance puts him in rarified air among NBA rookies. He becomes just the third rookie in NBA history to record 14 or more blocks in a single game, joining Mark Eaton and Manute Bol. The achievement also extends his lead in the Rookie of the Year race, with the French sensation averaging 20.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.9 blocks per game this season.\n\nThe Spurs (28-28) have won 12 of their last 16 games, largely due to Wembanyama's two-way dominance. With last night's victory, San Antonio moves into eighth place in the competitive Western Conference playoff race. The team will look to build on this momentum when they face the Denver Nuggets on Friday night in what promises to be a crucial matchup between two playoff contenders.