Victor Wembanyama turned a tied game into a San Antonio escape act in overtime Wednesday night. The 7-foot-4 star scored 36 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and helped the Spurs close a 117-111 win over the Jazz in Utah. San Antonio entered at 2-2, trying to build on last season’s Finals run. Utah, at 1-3, was searching for a home victory that could lift its young group.

The Jazz burst out with the energy they needed. After De’Aaron Fox and Wembanyama gave San Antonio a 4-0 start, Keyonte George began attacking. He hit a floater, then knocked down a three-pointer to put Utah ahead. George added another three and a free throw during a 12-5 Jazz surge, while rookie Darryn Peterson drilled a 29-foot three. Utah led 16-9 and kept pushing until it carried a 32-22 lead into the second quarter.

George finished with 31 points, but Utah’s early success was about its whole group. Guard Isaiah Collier scored and set up teammates, while center Bamba finished an alley-oop layup. The Jazz moved ahead 46-35 late in the second quarter. Yet Wembanyama began pulling San Antonio back. He dunked two alley-oop passes from Stephon Castle, then hit a three-pointer from 25 feet. His step-back three with 32.3 seconds left cut Utah’s lead to 53-51 before the Jazz took a 55-51 halftime advantage.

The Spurs finally caught Utah early in the third. Dylan Harper hit a three, Fox answered George’s layup with a three of his own, and Wembanyama blocked George at the rim before dunking his own miss for a 59-57 lead. Utah refused to fade. George hit another deep three, Ace Bailey answered with a three, and reserve forward Sensabaugh splashed one from outside to make it 84-78. But Wembanyama hit from 27 feet, and Castle scored with 1.2 seconds left to tie the game 85-85.

The fourth quarter became a tug-of-war. San Antonio led 105-100 after Devin Vassell scored a layup with 2:27 left, but Utah kept finding answers. Sensabaugh buried a three, and George drove for the tying layup with 41.4 seconds remaining. Castle then blocked George’s last-second three attempt, sending the game to overtime at 105-105.

That stop mattered because San Antonio’s defense took control in overtime. Sensabaugh gave Utah a 108-105 lead with a three, but Vassell answered. Harper made two free throws for a 109-108 lead, then Vassell tipped in a missed shot. Wembanyama followed with a jumper and a dunk, and Fox’s steal led to a late dunk that sealed it. San Antonio forced 19 Utah turnovers and collected 14 steals, turning pressure into its winning push.

The Spurs improved to 3-2 and will next face Minnesota, with Wembanyama again showing why their championship chase has such a towering centerpiece. Utah fell to 1-4 before meeting Portland, but George, Peterson, Bailey, and Sensabaugh showed the young Jazz can make strong teams fight for every stop.

Victor Wembanyama Takes Over Overtime as Spurs Escape Utah