Wembanyama hits game-winner, Spurs beat Suns 101-100

Victor Wembanyama buried a game-winning jumper in the closing seconds to lift the San Antonio Spurs past the Phoenix Suns 101-100 on March 19, 2026 at Frost Bank Center, clinching the franchise’s first playoff berth since 2019 in one of the most dramatic moments of this regular season.

Wembanyama seals it: how a one-point thriller unfolded

San Antonio controlled the early tempo, leaning on the Alien’s imposing presence around the rim and his ability to draw fouls at will. The Spurs built modest leads in the first and second quarters, with De’Aaron Fox attacking the Phoenix defense in transition and Julian Champagnie providing a spark from three-point range. At the half, San Antonio held a narrow edge, but the Suns refused to fold, with Collin Gillespie lighting up from deep and Devin Booker probing the paint looking for his rhythm.

The third quarter tightened the contest considerably. Phoenix clawed back into contention behind Gillespie’s six assists and Jalen Green’s relentless drives, keeping the pressure on a Spurs team that was simultaneously chasing a win and monitoring standings across the league. Entering the fourth, neither side had managed to establish a comfortable cushion.

The final twelve minutes were nothing short of electric. Booker and Gillespie kept the Suns within striking distance, and with seconds remaining Phoenix held a one-point lead that looked set to send San Antonio home empty-handed. Then the n°1 pick of the 2023 draft took matters into his own hands, rising over his defender and drilling the mid-range jumper that gave the Spurs a 101-100 advantage they would not relinquish. San Antonio was heading to the playoffs.

The clutch gene: Wemby’s game-winner and Gillespie’s final push

The defining sequence of the night came with the Frost Bank Center holding its breath. Wembanyama received the ball with the shot clock winding down, created just enough separation from his defender, and released a feathery jumper that found nothing but net. The basket not only secured the victory but also triggered a realization in the building: this team, this player, had just ended a six-year postseason drought in the most theatrical fashion possible.

For Phoenix, Collin Gillespie had done everything in his power to prevent that moment, finishing with 24 points on 6-of-11 shooting from three and 6 assists. Booker added 22 points and five dimes, but his 8-of-21 efficiency from the field ultimately proved too costly on a night when one possession separated these two franchises.

Victor Wembanyama: 34 points, 12 rebounds, and a moment for history

The French phenom’s statline was as complete as it was crucial. In 35 minutes, the Spurs’ franchise cornerstone posted:

• 34 points (10/20 FG, 2/7 from three, a perfect 12/12 from the free-throw line)
• 12 rebounds
• 3 steals, 1 block
• A staggering +18 plus/minus

The flawless performance at the charity stripe underscored the pivot’s growing maturity as a closer. His ability to command the line — 12 free throws attempted and converted — kept the Spurs in the game during stretches when his jump shot was not falling at its highest rate.

A playoff-bound Spurs roster built around the phénomène

San Antonio’s supporting cast delivered when it mattered most. De’Aaron Fox contributed 23 points and 7 rebounds, asserting himself as a genuine co-star alongside Wembanyama. Champagnie was precise from beyond the arc, going 4-of-8 on threes for 14 points, while Devin Vassell chipped in 12 points with a remarkable +21 rating, the best on the floor for either team. The depth and balance of this roster has been one of the pleasant surprises of the 2025-26 regular season.

Next stop: the playoffs — San Antonio’s drought is over

With the 101-100 victory secured, the Spurs have punched their ticket back to the postseason for the first time in six years, a milestone that confirms the franchise’s rapid rebuild around its generational centerpiece. As seeding battles intensify across the Western Conference in the final weeks of the regular season, San Antonio will look to sharpen its playoff positioning — and the basketball world will be watching every step Wembanyama takes toward his first postseason stage.