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Victor Wembanyama showcased his multi-dimensional prowess on Thursday, delivering his second career 5x5 game and leading the San Antonio Spurs to a decisive 106-88 victory over the Utah Jazz. Wembanyama, with an impressive 25 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, five steals, and five blocks, became just the third NBA player in history to achieve multiple 5x5 games, joining legends Hakeem Olajuwon and Andrei Kirilenko.
Achieving a 5x5 stat line, where a player records at least five in five categories, is a rare feat in the NBA. Olajuwon still leads with six 5x5 games in his career. Wembanyama, the 2023-24 Rookie of the Year, earned his first 5x5 against the Lakers earlier this year, and he sees this level of play as a new standard. "I need to get my standards up when I don't get 5x5s," Wembanyama told Tom Osborn of the 'San Antonio Express-News'. "This should be consistent—it's how I best help my team."
In another highlight from Thursday's games, Ja Morant secured his 12th career triple-double, steering the Memphis Grizzlies to a 122-99 win over the Milwaukee Bucks with a unique seated alley-oop pass. The Bucks' struggles continued, with Damian Lillard missing 11 out of 12 shots. Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns overcame a 21-point deficit to defeat the LA Clippers 125-119, led by Devin Booker's 40-point performance. However, Orlando Magic's Paolo Banchero faces an indefinite absence following a torn oblique, disrupting the team's early season momentum.
