SAN ANTONIO, Dec. 31 – It was a night designed for headlines about the future of basketball, featuring Victor Wembanyama and his extraterrestrial skill set. But when the final buzzer sounded at the Frost Bank Center, the story was about the old-fashioned virtues of balance, grit, and Jarrett Allen’s refusal to be an afterthought.
Allen poured in 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, anchoring a resilient Cleveland Cavaliers performance that spoiled the return of De’Aaron Fox and handed the San Antonio Spurs a 113-101 defeat.
The evening began as a showcase for Wembanyama’s unique brilliance. The Spurs’ phenom electrified the sell-out crowd early, finishing a thunderous alley-oop off the backboard from rookie Stephon Castle and casually draining a one-legged, 25-foot three-pointer to close the first quarter. For a moment, it felt like the Spurs, fresh off an eight-game winning streak that ended only days ago, were ready to run the Cavaliers out of the gym.
But Cleveland, stinging from a 37-point deficit in a loss to Houston just two nights prior, refused to panic. While Wembanyama dazzled (26 points, 14 rebounds), Allen dominated the trenches. He scored 12 points in the first half, including two crafty over-the-head buckets that signaled he wouldn’t be intimidated by the Spurs’ length.
The turning point arrived in the fourth quarter. Trailing late in the third, Cleveland flipped the script with perimeter shooting. Rookie Jaylen Tyson buried back-to-back three-pointers to swing the momentum, giving the Cavs an 87-82 lead they would not relinquish. The dagger came shortly after, when De’Andre Hunter converted a rare four-point play from the corner, pushing the lead to double digits and silencing the San Antonio faithful.
This victory was a testament to Cleveland’s depth at a critical juncture in their season. With seven players scoring in double figures—including 16 from Evan Mobley and a masterful 15-point, 11-assist floor game from Darius Garland—the Cavs proved they can win even when the opposing star shines brightest.
For San Antonio, the loss serves as a reality check. After soaring through an eight-game winning streak, dropping two straight at home exposes the growing pains of a young contender. Even the return of De’Aaron Fox, who added 14 points after missing a game with adductor tightness, wasn’t enough to stabilize the offense in the fourth quarter. The Spurs are learning that consistency, not just ceiling, is what defines the elite.
The Cavaliers (18-16) head home having salvaged a tough road trip, reminding the league that their frontcourt pairing of Allen and Mobley remains a problem for anyone to solve. The Spurs (23-9), meanwhile, must regroup quickly. The magic of Wembanyama is undeniable, but as Monday night proved, magic alone doesn’t guarantee wins against a team willing to do the dirty work.
