SAS 110, TOR 107: Wembanyama Clutch in 3-Point Thriller
Maya Chen
UX Designer ยท Golden State Warriors fan
Spurs Sneak Past Raptors in Close One, But the Fantasy Takeaways Are Messy
Alright, so the Spurs just barely held off Toronto 110-107 in what sounds like it should've been a barn burner but honestly felt more like two teams playing scared down the stretch. Three-point game. That's the kind of final score that makes fantasy managers both happy and confused about what the hell they just watched.
Let's talk about who actually showed up.
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victor Wembanyama | 38.0 | 41.1 | 12/8/3 | 24.0/11.2/2.9 | -12.0 |
| Jakob Poeltl | 41.0 | 38.4 | 15/7/2 | 9.4/7.3/2.0 | +5.6 |
| Dylan Harper | 42.0 | 36.5 | 15/5/7 | 11.0/3.4/3.7 | +4.0 |
| Brandon Ingram | 27.0 | 35.2 | 20/11/4 | 21.8/5.8/3.8 | -1.8 |
| Devin Vassell | 42.0 | 34.0 | 21/5/2 | 14.4/3.8/2.4 | +6.6 |
| Scottie Barnes | 31.0 | 29.8 | 15/4/2 | 19.1/8.2/5.6 | -4.1 |
| Julian Champagnie | 31.0 | 27.7 | 10/6/5 | 11.1/5.9/1.5 | -1.1 |
| Immanuel Quickley | 25.0 | 24.8 | 20/4/0 | 17.3/4.3/5.9 | +2.7 |
| Stephon Castle | 23.0 | 24.1 | 13/3/5 | 16.6/5.0/6.9 | -3.6 |
| De'Aaron Fox | 19.0 | 23.9 | 20/2/1 | 19.1/3.8/6.2 | +0.9 |
The Victor Wembanyama Reality Check
Here's the thing nobody wants to hear: Victor Wembanyama was basically invisible when it mattered most. All-Defensive First Team this season. One of the best big men in basketball. Tonight? 3-12 from the field. Yeah, he grabbed 8 boards and blocked 5 shots, so the fantasy line stayed respectable with 41.1 Yahoo points, but he was -12.0 from his season average in scoring. That's not a fluke, that's a bad night.
The Spurs won anyway, which tells you something about their depth, but it also means Vic didn't have to carry the load. Don't panic if you own him, but do notice that nights like this happen. Even All-NBA centers can have off games against solid defenses.
Devin Vassell Is Quietly Your Guy
Devin Vassell actually went off. 21 points on 8-13 shooting, five threes made, and he was +6.6 from his season average in scoring. That's the kind of efficient night that doesn't scream "BREAKOUT" but actually screams "this guy is locked in." He's been hovering around 14 PPG all season, but when he gets his rhythm like this, he's a legit scoring option. If he's available in your 12-team league, he's worth picking up. Not sexy, but reliable.
Brandon Ingram Had to Carry Toronto
Brandon Ingram led the Raptors with 20 points and 11 boards in 37 minutes. That's the kind of workload that says "yeah, we need him to do everything." He shot 9-22, which is fine, and his rebounding was the story. +5.2 from his season average in boards. He's basically on a minute diet where he HAS to produce, which makes him a solid play moving forward, but it's not like he exploded. He just did what was needed.
The Immanuel Quickley Thing
Immanuel Quickley went 6-12 from three-point range and scored 20 points in 36 minutes. That's a volume three-point shooter night, and honestly, it's exactly what you want from him. +2.7 in scoring versus his average is solid without being crazy. He's the kind of player who can have games where he goes nuclear from deep, and that's what we saw here. If you're considering adding him off waivers in deeper leagues, tonight's the type of game that justifies it.
Jakob Poeltl Is the Sneaky Win
But real talk, Jakob Poeltl might've been the most valuable player on either side tonight. 15 points, 7 boards, 5-5 from free throw line, perfect shooting percentage from the field (5-11 is solid). +5.6 in scoring versus his season average. This is a guy who was averaging 9.4 PPG all year, and suddenly he's in a position where he's getting 28 minutes and producing at an elite level for a center who comes off the bench. If Poeltl is available and you need bodies down low, he's worth targeting. He's not sexy, but he won't hurt you.
Scottie Barnes Disappointed
Scottie Barnes was a letdown. 15 points, 4 boards, 3 steals in 31 minutes looks okay on paper, but he was -4.1 from his season average in scoring and -4.2 in rebounds. When your best guy isn't best, that's the story. He's still a must-own in 12-team leagues, but nights like this where he doesn't quite get to his season average are frustrating when the game was close.
Stephon Castle Gets Minutes
Stephon Castle, your reigning Rookie of the Year, put up a solid 13/3/5 on 4-10 shooting with two threes. That's actually +3.3 in assists versus his season average, which means he had a playmaking night. He's one of those young guards who you watch and think, "okay, he's going to be really good," but he's not quite there yet in fantasy terms. Keep him on your radar though, especially if you need PG help.
The Bottom Line
Close games are good for fantasy in one way: lots of players get minutes because nobody can build separation. But they're bad in another way: no one really explodes because the game stays competitive. Tonight was basically that. The Spurs got the W because they had more depth and Devin Vassell hit his shots when it mattered. Toronto pushed hard but couldn't get enough scoring from anyone else to close it out.
For your league, the moves are simple. Devin Vassell and Jakob Poeltl had the kinds of nights that make them worth adding if they're still free in your league. Brandon Ingram did what he needed to do. Victor Wembanyama had an off night but he's still a star. Scottie Barnes underwhelmed but you're not benching him.
Nothing crazy. Just basketball.