Victor Wembanyama leads Spurs to a 126-98 win against Hawks with 26-point performance

ATLANTA (AP) — Victor Wembanyama scored 26 points, Devin Vassell added 18, and the San Antonio Spurs spoiled the first of a five-game home stretch for Atlanta with a 126-98 win over the Hawks.

The win was the Spurs' 20th of the season — a feat the team did not reach until Jan. 23 last season.

In his fourth game since returning from a calf injury that kept him sidelined for 12 games, Wembanyama added 12 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal. It was the center's first double-double since San Antonio's Nov. 14 loss to Golden State.

Vassell was 4 of 9 beyond the three-point arc.

The Spurs led for 47:27 of 48 minutes and were up 68-44 by halftime. San Antonio extended its lead to 102-72 by the end of the third quarter, and all of the starters were done for the night midway through the fourth.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the Hawks with 23 points in his return to the starting lineup. He was 7 of 9 from the foul line and 7 of 18 from the field.

Jalen Johnson, coming off a career-high 43-point performance against Charlotte, scored 17 points and added 11 rebounds. He led the Hawks with 13 points in the first quarter and solidified his 18th double-double of the season in the third quarter.

The Hawks rested Trae Young as they ease the All-Star guard back into game action after he missed 22 games with a sprained MCL. Young was held to eight points and contributed 10 assists in his first game since late October, a 133-126 loss to Charlotte on Thursday night.

Atlanta was also without Kristaps Porzingis, who will be sidelined for at least another week with an illness requiring further evaluation.

Hawks: Host the Bulls on Sunday night.

Spurs: At Washington on Sunday night.

___

AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA