Victor Wembanyama ties NBA Finals halftime block record as Spurs build on Knicks' slow start
Victor Wembanyama delivered a dominant defensive first half in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on June 14, 2026, helping San Antonio while trailing the series 3-1. The Spurs center came out strongly and, by halftime, had blocked five shots, tying the NBA Finals record for blocks in a half.
That mark puts him alongside some of the league's biggest names, including Tim Duncan, Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard. Howard still holds the NBA single-game block record with nine, a total Wembanyama could challenge if his pace continued.
His defense had a major effect on New York, which fell behind by double digits early and managed only four made baskets in the paint in the entire first half. The Knicks scored just 13 points in the first quarter, the second-lowest total ever for a Finals opening quarter.
The article notes that Wembanyama has continued to impress in his first NBA Finals appearance, and that San Antonio needs him to raise his level even further as it tries to stay alive in the series.
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