Key Takeaways:
- San Antonio collected their third consecutive victory without Victor Wembanyama, defeating Atlanta 135-126
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker posted a career-high 38 points for the Hawks, who have now dropped two in a row
- David Jones Garcia recorded season highs across the board, energising the Spurs with 12 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals and a block
Spurs Shine without Wembanyama
San Antonio continued their impressive run of form, overcoming the Atlanta Hawks 135-126 on Thursday evening to secure a third straight victory, all achieved without Victor Wembanyama, who remains sidelined due to a left calf strain. The Spurs (11-4) are now off to their strongest start through 15 games since the 2016-17 campaign, when they began 12-3.
Essential contributors missing from the line-up included Stephon Castle (strained left hip flexor) and Dylan Harper (left calf strain), in addition to Wembanyama. Atlanta were also without star guard Trae Young (right MCL sprain).
THREE STRAIGHT 🎉@FrostBank | #sponsored pic.twitter.com/02MumseV6x
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) November 21, 2025
Fox, Johnson and Jones Garcia Lead the Charge
De’Aaron Fox produced 26 points while Keldon Johnson added 25 for San Antonio, spearheading the attack in a high-scoring contest. Six Spurs finished in double figures, with Julian Champagnie contributing 20.
Spurs rookie David Jones Garcia, playing on a two-way contract from the Dominican Republic, made a substantial impact in extended minutes. Jones Garcia set season bests in multiple categories, registering 12 points, six assists, five rebounds, three steals and one blocked shot.
He was instrumental in a decisive 34-12 second-quarter surge that put San Antonio ahead 62-46 with 4:19 remaining in the first half. During an 8 minute, 14 second stretch within that run, Jones Garcia tallied eight points, three assists, two rebounds, and a block – more minutes than he had played in any of his previous four outings.
Atlanta’s Alexander-Walker Breaks Out
Despite the loss, Nickeil Alexander-Walker provided a major highlight for the visiting Hawks, pouring in a career-high 38 points on 13-for-17 shooting. Jalen Johnson supplied 26 points as Atlanta saw their five-game winning streak halted with a second consecutive defeat.
Late-Game Momentum from Spurs
Atlanta battled back to momentarily take a 101-100 lead thanks to Alexander-Walker, but the Spurs answered immediately. Jones Garcia outjumped taller opponents for a decisive rebound, launching a halfcourt pass to a sprinting Julian Champagnie for a layup as San Antonio reclaimed a 105-101 advantage with 8:38 left. Just a minute later, Jones Garcia stripped Jalen Johnson, starting a sequence that ended in Jeremy Sochan’s emphatic dunk for a 110-101 lead.
Veteran forward Harrison Barnes tallied 14 points for the Spurs, surpassing the 14,000 career points milestone in the process.
| Team | Leading Scorer | Points | Additional Notables |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Antonio Spurs | De’Aaron Fox | 26 | Keldon Johnson 25 pts, Julian Champagnie 20 pts, Harrison Barnes 14 pts (career 14,000+), David Jones Garcia season highs (12 pts, 6 ast, 5 reb, 3 stl, 1 blk) |
| Atlanta Hawks | Nickeil Alexander-Walker | 38 (career-high) | Jalen Johnson 26 pts; Missing Trae Young (right MCL sprain) |
Looking Ahead
- Hawks: At New Orleans on Saturday
- Spurs: At Phoenix on Sunday
