Spurs rookie Sandro Mamukelashvili exploded for a career-high on Wednesday night, as his 34 points helped to sink the New York Knicks in an upset.
There was just no stopping San Antonio Spurs rookie Sandro Mamukelashvili against the Knicks this week. The 25-year-old burst onto the scene with a night that can only be described as perfect.
He didn’t play a single minute in the first quarter.
But when Mamukelashvili stepped on the court in the second period, he caught fire immediately. He knocked down three straight three-pointers and added four points right under the basket, racking up a quick 13 points before halftime.
Strangely, he sat out the entire third quarter too.
Then came the fourth quarter explosion that left fans and teammates stunned. In just 11 minutes of playing time, Mamukelashvili poured in an incredible 21 points.
The Georgian big man finished with 34 points on nearly flawless shooting โ 13-for-14 from the field, including a perfect 7-for-7 from beyond the arc.
His defense was just as impressive, and he fell just one rebound short of his first NBA double-double.
What makes this performance truly historic? Mamukelashvili became the first player ever to score 34+ points while playing less than 20 minutes in an NBA game.
“Damn, I thought I went perfect…. Am I officially a scorer now?” Mamukelashvili joked after the game.
He turned serious when reflecting on his journey. “It’s been one hell of a ride up and down… just staying ready is what I’ve learned, having faith and praying and believing in yourself is the main thing. That’s what I learned today.”
This outburst came out of nowhere. Before Tuesday night, Mamukelashvili had never scored more than 14 points in a Spurs uniform. However, he’s been getting more playing time over his last four games and making the most of his opportunities.
Most importantly for San Antonio, his career night led all scorers and powered the Spurs to a huge win over the Knicks, who looked tired after their long trip to Texas.
