The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Monday, thanks to Victor Wembanyama who had an all-time performance.
Wembanyama played 49 minutes in the game that went to double overtime, and he finished with 41 points on 14-of-25 shooting, along with 24 rebounds, three assists, one steal and three blocks.
The French center also had one of the biggest shots of the showdown. With 27 seconds remaining in overtime, he launched a 28-foot triple to tie the game at 108-108 and send it to a second overtime.
While it was a thrilling battle, it wasn't without controversy. In fact, on Tuesday, Thunder big man Chet Holmgren received heavy criticism after a video of him stepping on Wembanyama's foot surfaced online.
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
In the clip shared by Bleacher Report, Holmgren was seen stopping Wembanyama by holding his right arm and stepping on his right foot as he attempted to rebound after a free throw.
Wemby almost tripped because of Holmgren, and he was unable to position himself for a rebound against Isaiah Hartenstein.
Several fans called Holmgren "dirty" for what he did, while others emphasized how dangerous the play was.
"[Expletive] bro can tear a ACL like that," NBA shooting coach Lethal Shooter commented. Another commenter said, "Oh they cheating cheating."
A viewer added, "Dirty play right there."
"WTH. That’s dirty as it comes," a social media user exclaimed.
"What an unlikable player," a critic declared.
A sixth poster stated, "Should be suspended for this."
The good news is that Wembanyama did not get injured during the contest. Still, considering how important he is to the Spurs and their championship hopes, he will certainly need to avoid any on-court accidents.
