SAN ANTONIO -- Catching the ball just past the San Antonio bench in front of the scorer's table, Victor Wembanyama needed just three dribbles before his feet hit the silver and black Spurs logo at center court.
From there, the Frenchman launched a shot that punctuated a hard-hitting first half that would power the Spurs to a 103-82 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 on Sunday, while changing the trajectory of the Western Conference finals.
Bang!
"I feel like with who we are, we need to start games like this," Wembanyama said with the series now tied at 2-2. "I was just thinking shoot to score. I wasn't messing around."
Wembanyama's 40-foot first-half buzzer-beater was the longest field goal by a Spur in the playoffs since GeniusIQ started tracking in 2014. Most importantly, it built on the tone San Antonio set from the opening tip. Wembanyama dropped 33 points with eight rebounds, five assists and three blocks while setting the franchise record for most points (324) in a player's first career postseason, besting Stephen Jackson's record of 307 set in 2003.