Wembanyama Hits Game-Winner, Spurs Clinch Playoff Berth

Rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama leads San Antonio to the postseason with clutch shot against Suns

Mar. 20, 2026 at 4:24am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In the final seconds of Thursday night's game against the Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama hit a go-ahead jumper to seal the victory and clinch a playoff berth for the Spurs. Wembanyama finished the night with 34 points, 12 rebounds, and one assist, leading his team to the postseason for the first time since 2019.

Why it matters

Wembanyama's heroics have sparked excitement around the Spurs, who are returning to the playoffs after a multi-year drought. The 7'4" phenom has taken the league by storm in his rookie campaign, cementing himself as an MVP-caliber player and a key part of San Antonio's future.

The details

With the Spurs trailing by one in the final seconds, Wembanyama received the ball and calmly drained the game-winning jumper to give San Antonio the victory. The crowd erupted in "MVP" chants as the team celebrated around their young star. Wembanyama acknowledged the intense atmosphere, saying "It was hard to take in all the stimulus around me."

  • Wembanyama checked into the game with about 3:30 left on the clock, as the Spurs were trailing by seven.
  • Wembanyama hit the game-winning shot in the final seconds of the game.

The players

Victor Wembanyama

A 7'4" rookie sensation for the San Antonio Spurs, who has emerged as an MVP-caliber player in his first NBA season.

Keldon Johnson

A Spurs forward who praised Wembanyama's performance, saying he's "playing at an MVP-type level" and leading the team to win.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“He's been phenomenal. To see how happy he was to hit the game-winner and to see the performances that he put on, like I said out there and like I said in the interview, he's playing at an MVP-type level. It's hard to deny when he's doing what he's doing on both ends of the court. He's leading us night in and night out to win.”

— Keldon Johnson, Spurs Forward

“It was hard to take in all the stimulus around me. Like, I had the fans looking at me. I had this guy spill wine on me before the end of the game. I make the shot, sprint back on defense and kind of hit a guy. I got wine on my shorts now.”

— Victor Wembanyama

What’s next

The Spurs have officially clinched a top 6 Western Conference seed in the playoffs, which means we'll also get to see Wembanyama in the postseason for the first time ever.

The takeaway

Victor Wembanyama's heroics have propelled the San Antonio Spurs back to the playoffs, showcasing the 7'4" rookie's immense talent and potential as an MVP-caliber player. His game-winning shot against the Suns has sparked excitement around the team and its future.