Spurs' Victor Wembanyama starts 0-for-12 in rough opener vs. OKC - ESPN

SAN ANTONIO — It took every bit of three quarters to do it, but Victor Wembanyama scrapped to earn his first bucket in Tuesday's 116-104 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Unfortunately for the San Antonio Spurs, it didn't come until the buzzer sounded to end the third quarter. Wembanyama fought through Chet Holmgren crossing half court, then set a screen on Cason Wallace before rolling to the basket for a spinning dunk off a lob from De'Aaron Fox. He missed his previous 12 shots up to that point, tying the mark for the second-most missed field goals to start a season opener in the play-by-play era (since 1997-98), according to Elias.

Wembanyama would finish the night shooting a career-worst 8% (1-for-13) from the field with 12 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks.

«I need to go back to playing the basketball I like,» Wembanyama said. «This is not the sport I like right here. I've got no reason to be hesitant, no reason to not be myself. I'm good when I have fun. I missed a lot of shots I usually don't miss. But after that, I didn't go back to these shots, and I wasn't decisive. I might be overthinking it. I don't need to do more. I need to think less probably.»

Wembanyama shot 52.4% from the field last season in five regular-season games against Oklahoma City, averaging 18.4 points, as the Spurs rolled to a 4-1 record against the Thunder. In the Western Conference finals, Wembanyama boosted his scoring average against OKC to 27.3 points on 48.1% shooting from the floor.

Yet finding offensive success against the Thunder in Tuesday's opener proved much more difficult. Oklahoma City constantly showed the 22-year-old crowds while providing an optimal blend of help defense without letting San Antonio's other scorers loose.

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