SAS 101, PHX 100: Wembanyama Dominates With 58.9 Yahoo FP
Maya Chen
UX Designer ยท Golden State Warriors fan
Victor Wembanyama Reminds Everyone He's Still The Best Center In The League
Look, I'm going to say it straight: Victor Wembanyama just put on a masterclass in what happens when you give a generational talent exactly one night to go off. The Spurs' All-NBA third team center dropped 58.9 Yahoo fantasy points on one bucket short of a perfect free throw night, and this wasn't some random Tuesday either. This was a one-point game that came down to the final possession, and Vic was the entire reason San Antonio had a shot.
Here's your top 10 from tonight:
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victor Wembanyama | 60.0 | 58.9 | 34/12/1 | 24.2/11.1/2.9 | +9.8 |
| Collin Gillespie | 51.0 | 40.4 | 24/2/6 | 13.1/4.2/4.8 | +10.9 |
| Oso Ighodaro | 43.0 | 36.9 | 15/7/7 | 6.1/4.9/2.1 | +8.9 |
| De'Aaron Fox | 31.0 | 34.9 | 23/7/3 | 19.0/3.8/6.3 | +4.0 |
| Jalen Green | 26.0 | 32.6 | 17/8/4 | 17.2/3.4/2.6 | -0.2 |
| Devin Booker | 18.0 | 25.5 | 22/0/5 | 25.8/4.0/5.9 | -3.8 |
| Julian Champagnie | 30.0 | 24.4 | 14/2/2 | 11.2/5.8/1.5 | +2.8 |
| Jordan Goodwin | 21.0 | 23.6 | 5/8/0 | 8.7/4.7/2.2 | -3.7 |
| Rasheer Fleming | 22.0 | 22.0 | 8/5/0 | 3.6/2.0/0.2 | +4.4 |
| Ryan Dunn | 19.0 | 19.1 | 5/8/1 | 5.7/4.1/1.4 | -0.7 |
The Wembanyama Show
Let me be real about what we just watched: 34 points on 10-20 shooting, 12 rebounds, and 12-12 from the line. That's not just a good night. That's the kind of performance that shows you why this dude is third-team All-NBA. He was +9.8 points above his season average, which for a guy already dropping 24.2 a night means he was operating at another level entirely.
What made it even crazier? The efficiency wasn't some empty stat line. In a one-point game, every bucket mattered. When the final shot didn't fall for Phoenix, it was Vic's dominance that had San Antonio within striking distance in the first place. If you own him, you're already flexing in your league group chat. If you don't, you weren't getting him back at draft value anyway.
The Gillespie Breakout Nobody Saw Coming
Real talk, Collin Gillespie going for 40.4 Yahoo FP is not what you expect when you see a bench guard matchup. But here's what actually happened: he dropped 24 points on 6 threes, added 6 assists, and basically said "I'm the Suns' starting point guard now" with his performance. That +10.9 vs his season average is legitimately insane for a guy averaging 13.1 PPG.
The concerning part for Phoenix? This should scare you a little bit. When your starting guards are getting roasted to the point where your bench guy has to step up like this, something's off. Devin Booker shot 8-21 tonight and grabbed zero rebounds in 34 minutes. That's not the Book you paid for. He was -3.8 vs his season average, and in a close game, that's the difference.
The Bench Depth Story
Oso Ighodaro going for 36.9 Yahoo FP with 7 assists is exactly what you want to see from a backup center. He was clearly the glue guy San Antonio needed tonight, and that +8.9 from his season average tells you he got meaningful run in clutch situations. That's the kind of move that wins your weekly matchup without you realizing it.
On the Phoenix side, Jalen Green put up solid numbers (32.6 Yahoo FP) but it basically flatlined vs his season average, which feels about right for a guy who was supposed to be carrying load in this one. Jordan Goodwin tried to will things on the boards, but a 2-9 shooting night made it hard for him to move the needle even with the 8 rebounds.
The Real Story
This was a defensive slugfest between two teams that know how to grind. Phoenix's backcourt looked scattered without full firepower from their rotation guys, and San Antonio made them pay. If you had Victor Wembanyama tonight, you won your week. If you had Devin Booker, you're already thinking about who to trade him for.
The waiver wire move here is simple: Collin Gillespie just made a statement. In 12-team leagues, he's worth a pickup if he's available, because that kind of performance doesn't happen by accident. He got 34 minutes and clearly earned the confidence. That's not a one-game fluke marker, that's a role expansion.
Harrison Barnes getting a +0.1% ownership bump after this is kind of funny because he was mostly a spectator tonight (6 points, 3 assists in 23 minutes), but that's waiver wire culture for you. People add after the fact instead of before.
Bottom line: San Antonio stole one, Vic reminded everyone why he's special, and Phoenix's guards looked out of sync. If this keeps happening for the Suns, that's a serious problem for anyone holding their guards. Watch the next few games closely.