A sudden silence filled the Frost Bank Center when San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama went down with an apparent knee injury in the first quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks after bumping knees with a driving Giannis Antetokounmpo.
As he headed back to the locker room, concern spread through the building, especially with the Spurs already coming off a two game losing streak. The moment raised immediate questions about how a struggling San Antonio team would manage without its franchise centerpiece.
Victor Wembanyama leaves the game with a knee injury. Oh no.
Prayers. pic.twitter.com/zhMVEtc3Yj
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 16, 2026
The concern inside the arena faded quickly when Wembanyama returned about 10 minutes later, and his presence helped ignite an offense that had struggled in recent games as San Antonio pulled away for a 119 -101 victory over Milwaukee.
The Spurs set the tone early by clearing 30 points in each of the first three quarters, turning the fourth into little more than garbage time. They shot 51 percent from the field and buried 16 three pointers at a 43 percent rate, pushing the pace and keeping constant pressure on Milwaukee. San Antonio stayed aggressive for three full quarters and put the Bucks away, delivering the kind of performance that had been absent during their recent skid.
Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs dominance on Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks
Jan 8, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) looks to shoot under pressure from San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
San Antonio moved the ball with purpose, finishing with 28 assists while spreading the scoring across the roster. Six Spurs reached double figures, and seven different players knocked down at least one three pointer as the team played fast, shared the ball and consistently made the right reads.
The Spurs quickly extended a 13-point halftime lead into a 30-point advantage in the third quarter, fueled by an explosive shooting display from beyond the arc. Harrison Barnes hit multiple threes, while Wembanyama added three of his own, and the Bucks appeared to fold under the pressure. Milwaukee emptied its bench with plenty of time still left in the quarter.
Jan 8, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) holds the ball away from Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the second quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Wembanyama set the tone despite logging just 22 minutes, finishing with 22 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks while connecting on five of his six attempts from beyond the arc.
The Alien wasn’t the only defensive factor. When he left in the first quarter, 6-foot-6 guard Stephon Castle took over guarding Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak scored 14 points early, but Castle and the Spurs locked him down afterward, holding him to just seven more points as he finished with a Bucks-high 21.