San Antonio Spurs fans held their breath early in Thursday night’s clash against the Milwaukee Bucks, but by the end of the evening, they were celebrating yet another statement win in a season that’s rapidly exceeding expectations. The 119-101 victory at Frost Bank Center on January 15, 2026, wasn’t just a showcase of the Spurs’ rising dominance in the Western Conference—it was also a testament to the resilience and star power of Victor Wembanyama, whose brief injury scare had the entire arena on edge.
The drama unfolded just minutes into the first quarter, as the much-anticipated fourth showdown between two of the NBA’s most formidable giants—Giannis Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama—quickly turned physical. With 9:18 left in the opening period, Antetokounmpo barreled into Wembanyama on a drive to the basket, causing both players to bang knees. Wembanyama went down hard, writhing in pain, and was promptly escorted to the locker room. Spurs fans collectively held their breath; after all, Wembanyama’s emergence this season has been nothing short of spectacular, and his health is critical to San Antonio’s playoff ambitions.
"Victor Wembanyama was down in pain and headed to the locker room after bumping knees with Giannis Antetokounmpo. Hope Wemby’s okay," wrote ClutchPoints on X (formerly Twitter), capturing the anxiety of the moment. Wembanyama’s early exit left the Spurs with a slim 8-7 lead, and Luke Kornet stepped in to absorb the center minutes, with Kelly Olynyk potentially backing him up if needed.
Thankfully for the Spurs, the injury proved to be minor. After spending the remainder of the first quarter in the locker room, Wembanyama returned to the bench and started the second quarter. The crowd erupted as he rejoined the action, and he wasted no time making his presence felt. In just 22 minutes of play, Wembanyama racked up 22 points and 10 rebounds, including a scorching 5-of-6 performance from behind the arc. His second-quarter surge—11 points in that frame alone—helped the Spurs seize control, turning a brief Bucks lead into a commanding 66-53 halftime advantage.
San Antonio’s dominance extended into the third quarter, where they poured in a staggering 40 points to blow the game wide open. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the Spurs led by 37 points, prompting both coaches to empty their benches. Giannis Antetokounmpo, who finished with 21 points in 22 minutes, never saw the floor in the final period, instead pacing the baseline with a towel draped over his head—a clear sign of Milwaukee’s frustration.
It’s been a tough stretch for the Bucks, who dropped their third straight game and their second consecutive blowout. Just two nights earlier, they suffered a 33-point defeat at home to the Minnesota Timberwolves, prompting boos from the home crowd and even a tongue-in-cheek response from Antetokounmpo himself. Bucks head coach Doc Rivers didn’t mince words after the loss to San Antonio: "I thought Minnesota was clearly dead legs, tonight, we got outplayed guys," Rivers said. "Let me say this, before the game if you would have told us we shot 48 threes, what would you have thought? (Moved the ball) and we probably won the game, or at least had a chance to win. We didn’t make ‘em. I can’t overdo that. The fouling, and the missed threes, long rebounds got them out running. That hurt us. But the fouling killed us. And that’s what we gotta shore up."
The Spurs, meanwhile, are riding high. Their record now stands at 28-13, good for third place in the stacked Western Conference. This win snapped a brief two-game skid, which included a heartbreaking 104-103 loss to Minnesota and a 21-point defeat at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Yet, it’s worth noting that prior to that, San Antonio had already beaten the defending champion Thunder three times—a feat matched by only four other teams combined this season.
Stephon Castle was another standout for San Antonio, tallying 19 points and 10 assists in 26 minutes. Six Spurs reached double figures, a testament to the team’s depth and balanced attack. On the Bucks’ side, only Kyle Kuzma (18 points) and Bobby Portis Jr. (13 points) joined Antetokounmpo in double digits while the regulars were in the game. Milwaukee’s offense sputtered, especially from beyond the arc; despite launching 48 three-pointers, they converted just 14, and their inability to defend without fouling allowed the Spurs to cash in at the free throw line, going 20-of-23.
The duel between Wembanyama and Antetokounmpo continues to captivate NBA fans. In their first meeting, back on January 4, 2024, Antetokounmpo exploded for 44 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists, while Wembanyama countered with 27 points, nine rebounds, and five blocks. Last season, the teams split their two encounters, with Wembanyama notching a 30-point, 14-rebound, six-block performance as the Spurs claimed their first win in the series. Both players are expected to start in the upcoming All-Star Game in Los Angeles, which will feature a new United States vs. the World format.
After the game, Antetokounmpo was generous in his praise for Wembanyama, recognizing the French phenom’s rapid development. "He’s 7-5 right? He’s pretty much unguardable," Antetokounmpo said. "So the only way that you can guard a player like that, you just gotta be physical and try to push him off his spot. But at the end of the day, I feel like the moment he’s able to keep on growing, growing his game and growing his player and growing just getting older, he’s going to figure out his spot and how to, no matter what the test is, you will always have the answers."
The Bucks, now 17-24 and three games behind the Chicago Bulls for the final play-in spot, will look to regroup as they head to Atlanta for a Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee against the Hawks. The pressure is mounting, but Doc Rivers remains optimistic: "I think people outside look at that more than the players. Honestly. The players, guys, we got half the year left. I don’t think people are sitting there looking at the record right now. I think they’re trying to get right. So that’s where it goes."
For San Antonio, the message is clear: with Wembanyama healthy and firing on all cylinders, the Spurs are a force to be reckoned with. Thursday’s win not only showcased their depth and resilience but also reaffirmed their status as one of the league’s most exciting young teams. As for Wembanyama, his return from an early scare and subsequent dominance sent a powerful message to the rest of the NBA—the future truly does look bright in San Antonio.