Spurs 126, Jazz 109: Victor Wembanyama posts 61.1 fantasy points
Tyler Okonkwo
Student & Retail Associate · Houston Rockets fan
Wembanyama's Masterclass Saves Spurs, But Ace Bailey Is the Real Waiver Wire Story
Victor Wembanyama just reminded everyone why he's the future of this league. The Spurs big man dropped 26/13/3 with 5 blocks on elite efficiency (9-14 FG, 4 3PM) to lead San Antonio to a 126-109 win in Utah. But here's the fantasy wrinkle that matters: this was a +1.6 points, +2.2 rebounds game for him. Wembanyama delivered exactly what you'd expect from an All-Defensive First Teamer, nothing more. The real story? Ace Bailey went absolutely nuclear off the bench, dropping 25 points on 11-16 shooting in just 32 minutes. That's +14.5 points above his 10.5 season average. Kid looked like he finally unlocked something.
Tonight's Top Performers
| Player | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | vs Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victor Wembanyama | 61.1 | 26/13/3/1/5 | 24.4/10.8/2.9 | +1.6 pts, +2.2 reb |
| Jusuf Nurkić | 56.2 | 17/11/14/1/1 | 10.9/10.2/4.5 | +6.1 pts, +9.5 ast |
| De'Aaron Fox | 46.5 | 31/5/5/0/1 | 20.2/4.1/6.0 | +10.8 pts, -1.0 ast |
| Keyonte George | 43.3 | 23/4/5/2/1 | 24.4/4.0/6.7 | -1.4 pts |
| Stephon Castle | 41.4 | 16/7/8/2/0 | 16.9/5.0/7.0 | -0.9 pts, +2.0 reb |
| Ace Bailey | 33.2 | 25/6/2/0/0 | 10.5/3.4/1.6 | +14.5 pts, +2.6 reb |
The Spurs got contributions across the board. De'Aaron Fox absolutely cooked tonight, going 10-13 from the field and 6-6 from three for 31 points. That's a massive +10.8 above his 20.2 average. This is what elite shot-making looks like. Keyonte George kept it relatively quiet (23 points but -1.4 vs his average), which is fine when the supporting cast steps up. Stephon Castle, the reigning Rookie of the Year, ran the offense smoothly with 8 assists on 37 minutes. He was basically at his floor, which tells you the Spurs didn't need to lean as heavy on their young PG tonight.
The Winners
De'Aaron Fox went into takeover mode, finishing with 46.5 Yahoo FP and +10.8 points above his season average. When a player of Fox's caliber shoots 77% from three, you don't ask questions, you celebrate. This is the type of night that reminds you why he's All-NBA caliber.
Jusuf Nurkić was the Spurs' real problem all night. 17/11/14 with 34 minutes of work put up 56.2 Yahoo FP, and that +9.5 assist differential is massive. He was the floor general down low, running the offense through the post and finding cutters. This is what healthy Nurkić looks like when he's engaged.
Ace Bailey is the waiver wire slam dunk here. 25 points on ridiculous efficiency in 32 minutes is not a fluke if it keeps happening. He's now 21.4% owned on ESPN (climbing +0.6% from this game), and that number is going to spike this week. The kid is getting opportunity and capitalizing.
The Letdowns
Keyonte George came back down to earth after his ridiculous scoring streak. 23 points isn't bad, but shooting 7-15 and finishing -1.4 vs average shows the Jazz offense struggled to get him clean looks. Nothing panic-worthy, but owners needed more given the matchup.
Brice Sensabaugh completely disappeared, going 0-6 from the field for 2 points in 20 minutes. This is the kind of game that reminds you role players can vanish. He was -9.7 points vs average. If you grabbed him hoping for consistency, tonight should scare you.
The Trends
The Jazz are clearly running more through Nurkić in the post now. His +9.5 assist game isn't normal for a big man, but it signals Utah is prioritizing him as a playmaker, not just a rebounder. That's a role shift that could elevate his ceiling if it sticks.
Ace Bailey's 32 minutes and immediate impact suggest Utah's coaching staff is finally committing to getting him reps. He's a first-round pick who's been waiting for his moment. Tonight might be the start of something real.
The Spurs' depth won on display. When Victor doesn't need to drop 30+, it's actually better for your fantasy team because it means contributions are spread. Keldon Johnson (21 points, +7.7 vs avg) and Julian Champagnie (17 points, +5.4 vs avg) both showed up.
The Moves
Add Ace Bailey immediately. 25 points on 69% FG in a starting role? The waiver claim priority ladder just shifted in Utah's favor. He's going to be scooped within 48 hours.
Pivot off Brice Sensabaugh if you're looking to upgrade. 0-6 games are concerning when a player isn't getting touches from a volume perspective. Check if anyone bit on him in trades this week.
Grab Keldon Johnson as a waiver flyer if available. The Spurs are going to need scoring depth when Victor draws double teams, and Keldon looked locked in tonight with +7.7 above average.
Next Up
The Jazz need to figure out what their best lineup actually is. George running the point? Nurkić as a post facilitator? Getting Bailey consistent run? Answer those questions and they're dangerous.
The Spurs just proved they can beat anybody without Devin Vassell. That's a luxury. Victor's floor is so high that even normal nights from him lead to dubs.