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Michael C. Wright
SAN ANTONIO — Bewildered and in a state of disbelief, San Antonio Spurs ahead Sandro Mamukelashvili walked back-and-forth half-dressed close to his locker Wednesday night time repeating the identical phrases after his crew’s 120-105 win over the New York Knicks.
“I do not know what f—ing occurred,” Mamukelashvili mentioned. “I do not know what f—ing occurred.”
With good buddy and rapper Taste Flav hyping a crowd of 18,521 that gleefully flooded Frost Financial institution Middle with MVP chants, Mamukelashvili made NBA historical past by scoring probably the most factors — a career-high 34 — in a recreation when enjoying fewer than 20 minutes since 1951-52, when minutes grew to become official.
“I have been ready for at the present time for a very long time,” he mentioned. “I simply cannot clarify how I really feel proper now. I really feel like I am in a dream. I manifested and prayed for it. I simply waited for at the present time. I actually had an out of physique expertise for somewhat bit there. I used to be like, ‘Is that this actually taking place?'”
Spurs teammates made certain of it, mobbing Mamukelashvili on the ground on the closing buzzer. Wearing a pink T-shirt along with his trademark clock dangling from his neck, Taste Flav made it much more actual by crashing the ahead’s on-court postgame interview to say, “I do not care what no person says. My man is on fiiiiiiiirrrreee!”
Sitting one locker over from Mamukelashvili minutes after all of the pandemonium on the court docket, teammate Jeremy Sochan requested half-jokingly whether or not “we will get Taste Flav to remain” in San Antonio for some time.
Averaging 8.9 minutes for the season, Mamukelashvili did not enter Wednesday’s recreation till 55 seconds into the second quarter. The 25-year-old wasted little time making his presence felt. Mamukelashvili scored his first bucket on a tip-in off a Blake Wesley miss. Then, he drilled a 27-footer off a Stephon Castle help to offer the Spurs a 7-point lead.
He’d end the quarter with 13 factors on 5-of-6 capturing, together with 3-of-3 from lengthy vary with 7 rebounds and an help as San Antonio walked off the ground at intermission main 67-43.
“13-of-14 from the sphere, 7-for-7 from 3, it could be ridiculous to say that was anticipated in 19 minutes and 26 seconds of alternative,” Spurs performing coach Mitch Johnson mentioned. “He is a very good shooter, and also you’re simply ready for him to have a type of video games. I believe that most likely exceeded a number of the considered having a type of video games. However he involves work day-after-day. He is probably the most constant individual, particularly whenever you speak in regards to the function that he has. That is why you possibly can hear somewhat little bit of the blokes [in the locker room] and their feeling for him.”
Mamukelashvili did not play within the third quarter. However within the closing body, he lit up the Knicks for 21 factors on 8-of-8 capturing, together with 4-of-4 from 3-point vary to go along with 2 rebounds and a couple of assists.
Mamukelashvili heated up a lot that teammate Chris Paul began calling actions down the stretch to get his teammate extra appears to be like.
“Fortunately, I’ve performed for some time and form of know the artwork of getting guys photographs,” Paul mentioned. “Mamu is an incredible teammate. He is available in and works onerous day-after-day, cheers guys on, at all times in a very good temper, good angle. When he is capturing the ball like that, you simply attempt to discover the man.”
Mamukelashvili grew to become the fourth participant in NBA historical past to shoot 90% from the sphere, 100% on 3-pointers and 100% on free throws in a recreation, becoming a member of Tyrese Haliburton (2022), Gary Payton (1995) and Charles Barkley. He additionally ranks because the third Spur to knock down 7-of-7 or higher on 3-pointers, becoming a member of Matt Bonner (2010) and Steve Smith (2001).
The historic night time could not have come at a greater time for Mamukelashvili, who had simply flown in his father, Zurab, from New Jersey to observe Wednesday’s recreation with different relations. Taste Flav, who celebrated his birthday on March 16, has been a buddy of Mamukelashvili’s “for a very long time,” the ahead mentioned. Mamukelashvili and Taste Flav met by the latter’s monetary advisor.
Taste Flav even got here to see Mamukelashvili in 2021 at his first NBA Summer season League.
“He was telling me, ‘I am gonna come out,'” Mamukelashvili mentioned. “He referred to as me and was like, ‘For my birthday, I am coming to San Antonio.’ So, I used to be like, ‘OK, you ain’t gonna have enjoyable there.'”
He did, although, because of a profession night time from his buddy at Frost Financial institution Middle.
“I am attempting to get higher. I am attempting to ascertain myself,” Mamukelashvili mentioned. “I am attempting to indicate all people that I belong. I am going to simply hold taking strides in direction of that. I am simply so glad I’ve a help crew behind me: my lady, my associates, my teammates, my household. As soon as it sinks in, you are form of like, ‘OK, I actually labored for this and it is taking place.’ It was an unbelievable feeling.”
ESPN Analysis contributed to this report.
