Thursday night’s matchup between the Milwaukee Bucks and San Antonio Spurs had been one to watch for quite some time, as it was the first-ever meeting between Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Spurs center Victor Wembanyama.
The teams met in Milwaukee on December 19, as the Bucks cruised to a 132-119 win, but Wembanyama missed the game with a sore ankle.
Thursday night, however, he was in action and the game lived up to the hype, with Milwaukee pulling out a 125-121 victory in San Antonio.
Giannis led all scorers with 44 points and 14 rebounds, while Wembanyama finished with 27 points and nine rebounds to go along with five blocked shots.
The entire game was good, but the highlights were absolutely when the two players would go at each other, which can be seen below.
A ridiculous sequence from Giannis and Wemby, with Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller on the call for TNT. 🏀🎙️🔥 pic.twitter.com/0ZCrPOhDan
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 5, 2024
Giannis dunks on Wemby! 🏀🔨pic.twitter.com/GNpX2pWe57
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) January 5, 2024
The incredible Wemby-Giannis sequences keep coming on TNT. 🏀🦄🔥 pic.twitter.com/iZtnVbV4TJ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 5, 2024
"OH IT'S KNOCKED AWAY BY WEMBANYAMA! KNOCKED AWAY BY WEMBANYAMA!" – Kevin Harlan on the call for Wemby rejecting Giannis at the rim pic.twitter.com/TjOOPohlmU
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 5, 2024
It’s a shame that as long as the players are in different conferences we’ll only get this matchup twice a year, but if it’s this good every time, we’re all in for quite a treat over the next few years.
Fans on social media had a ton to say about the showdown.
Shea Serrano was having a blast watching the game, saying, “WEMBY VS GIANNIS IS BASKETBALL PACIFIC RIM.”
WEMBY VS GIANNIS IS BASKETBALL PACIFIC RIM
— Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) January 5, 2024
The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor echoed the thoughts, saying, “Dude… Wemby vs. Giannis is INCREDIBLE.”
Dude…Wemby vs. Giannis is INCREDIBLE
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) January 5, 2024
Another fan said, “Watching Giannis and Wemby go back and forth is an absolute treat.”
Watching Giannis and Wemby go back and forth is an absolute treat
— Matthew Tynan (@Matthew_Tynan) January 5, 2024
Finally, another fan compared the matchup to one between Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain
The Wemby Giannis matchup pic.twitter.com/QDyiOX3zpP
— 《Juliana Aaron》 (@julzzay) January 5, 2024
