SAN ANTONIO — Jeremy Sochan hit a key 3-pointer in the final minute and finished with 26 points and a career-high 18 rebounds as San Antonio beat the Phoenix Suns 104-102 on Monday night with Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama sidelined due to injury.
Devin Vassell added 26 points for San Antonio and celebrated the victory by yelling into the house microphone after the game: “That’s a big win. That’s a big win.”
Devin Booker scored 36 points and Kevin Durant added 29 as Phoenix split a two-game set in San Antonio.
“Disappointed,” Phoenix guard Bradley Beal said. “We definitely laid an egg. We came in, thought it was going to be easy, no Wemby. … They came out aggressive, like coach told us they would, and we didn’t respond. We didn’t. Did not respond.”
Beal exited with three minutes remaining after spraining his right ring finger. Suns coach Frank Vogel said X-rays were negative for any structural damage, but Beal’s status remains undetermined.
The Suns outscored the Spurs 14-7 in the final five minutes, but Sochan’s 3-pointer with 29 seconds was the difference. Booker and Durant missed potential game-winning 3-pointers in the final seconds.
“I was confident,” Sochan said. “Even at the start, I was asking for the ball, I had my hands up. I felt like the couple of the last games the ball hasn’t going in for me from the 3-point line. But no matter what, I believe in myself.”
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, center, sits on the bench with an ankle injury during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns in San Antonio, Monday, March 25, 2024. Credit: AP/Eric Gay
The Spurs were without Wembanyama, who sat out with a sprained left ankle. He was injured in Saturday’s loss to Phoenix.
San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said the injury was not severe and that it was “a little better than 50-50” that Wembanyama would play Wednesday at Utah.
After being blown out Saturday by Phoenix witih Wembanyama, the Spurs…
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