Spurs' Sandro Mamukelashvili scores 34 in 19 minutes, celebrates with Flavor Flav
Spurs' Sandro Mamukelashvili scores 34 in 19 minutes, celebrates with Flavor Flav
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Gordon Hayward understands fans criticizing current state of NBA play
Gordon Hayward talks about the current state of the NBA and the increased amount of three-point attempts being taken across the league.
Sports Seriously
The San Antonio Spurs haven't had much to cheer about this season, with the loss of superstar Victor Wembanyama, sidelined for the rest of the season with a deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder, and longtime coach Gregg Popovich sitting out the year while recovering from a mild stroke.
But during Wednesday night's game against the New York Knicks, Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili made NBA history by scoring a career-high 34 points in just 19 minutes of play in the 120-105 victory. It's the first time a player has scored that many points while playing fewer than 20 minutes.
"I've been waiting for this day for a long time," Mamukelashvili, who also had nine rebounds and three assists, said after the game. "I just can't explain how I feel right now. I feel like I'm in a dream. I manifested and prayed for it. I just waited for this day. I really had an out of body experience for a little bit there. I was like, 'Is this really happening?'"
Mamukelashvili, a 26-year-old who played his college ball at Seton Hall, entered the game averaging less than nine minutes per game. He checked in with 11 minutes left in the second quarter, and finished with 13 points at halftime.
Sandro Mamukelashvili is going OFF ‼️
A career-high 34 PTS on 13-14 shooting and 7-7 from three... in only 19 minutes played 🤯 pic.twitter.com/5tPN0LQrU5 — NBA (@NBA) March 20, 2025
Rapper Flavor Flav, in attendance, was so hyped for Mamukelashvili's performance, he ran onto the court to join him during his postgame television interview.
This entire Mamu-Flavor Flav sequence is the best thing that's happened in the NBA all season 🩶 pic.twitter.com/NjpyvDUiAy — WembyMuse (@Wemby_Muse) March 20, 2025
Mamukelashvili didn't play in the third quarter, but in the final 12 minutes, he couldn't be stopped, hitting all eight of his shots, including four from 3-point range, to finish with 21 points in the quarter.
"I'm trying to get better. I'm trying to establish myself," Mamukelashvili said. "I'm trying to show everybody that I belong. I'll just keep taking strides towards that. I'm just so happy I have a support team behind me: my girl, my friends, my teammates, my family. Once it sinks in, you're kind of like. 'OK, I really worked for this and it's happening.' It was an unbelievable feeling."
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
28 minutes ago
- USA Today
CBS Sports' latest NBA mock draft has Walter Clayton Jr. going to this team out west
CBS Sports' latest NBA mock draft has Walter Clayton Jr. going to this team out west Former Florida basketball guard Walter Clayton Jr. is officially getting first-round buzz ahead of the 2025 NBA draft, with CBS Sports projecting him at No. 29 overall to the Phoenix Suns. Clayton, who averaged 18.3 points per game and shot 38.6 percent from three last season, was named Most Outstanding Player of the 2025 Final Four. His draft stock soared following a scorching NCAA Tournament run, where he averaged over 22 points and shot 43.5 percent from beyond the arc. CBS Sports' Gary Parrish called him "a skilled and unique shotmaker" and noted that while scouts have concerns about his decision-making and defense, his ability to score at all three levels make him a valuable late-first-round target. If selected, Clayton would become Florida's first NBA first-round pick since Tre Mann in 2021 when the Oklahoma City Thunder selected him with the 18th overall pick. Clayton's rise caps off a remarkable career transformation under head coach Todd Golden and solidifies the Gators' place back among college basketball's elite programs. What CBS Sports said about Clayton "Clayton was the star of Florida's national title run while averaging 22.3 points on 43.5% shooting from beyond the arc in those six NCAA Tournament games. There are concerns about his decision-making and approach to defense, but the Most Outstanding Player of the 2025 Final Four is such a skilled and unique shotmaker that he's worthy of a serious look this deep in the first round by a Phoenix franchise that probably needs to hit the reset button." Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
28 minutes ago
- USA Today
NBA rumors roundup: Latest on Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jason Kidd, more
NBA rumors roundup: Latest on Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jason Kidd, more While the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder play in the NBA Finals, the rest of the league is already focused on all of their offseason moves. After the Bucks were eliminated from the playoffs, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo was "open-minded" about his future. There are plenty of other rumors floating around the league right now, including a coaching vacancy in New York after they moved on from Tom Thibodeau. ESPN's Brian Windhorst recently predicted that the offseason will happen "faster than normal" this summer and that the majority of the action will happen around the 2025 NBA Draft. Here are the latest updates about the biggest storylines to follow over the course of the next few weeks. Giannis Antetokounmpo There is no bigger story in the NBA than where Milwaukee superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo will land if he is traded. While the Mavericks were briefly floated as a potential option when they surprisingly landed the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the franchise reportedly plans to select Cooper Flagg. Other rumored destinations include the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs, and the Spurs are the favorites. The superstar was also recently linked to the Toronto Raptors, which would shake up the Eastern Conference. It is worth noting that Antetokounmpo recently stated that he hopes to return to the NBA Finals with the Bucks. Windhorst reported that the 2021 NBA Finals MVP has not asked for a trade and that Milwaukee is not looking to trade him. Meanwhile, per Jake Fischer, talks have "significantly stalled" of late as well. More: The Giannis Antetokounmpo era in Milwaukee ended in embarrassing fashion Kevin Durant According to Windhorst, there are a "handful" of teams who will have interest in trading for Kevin Durant. Charania pegged that number as between four and six and one of those teams is the New York Knicks, who reportedly made an offer for Durant at the NBA trade deadline. Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs are a potential destination as well. In fact, The Ringer's Bill Simmons believes that Durant to San Antonio is already a "done deal" and just awaiting an announcement. The Spurs likely would not have to include the No. 2 overall pick in such an agreement. If the Bucks don't end up making a deal for Antetokounmpo, the Raptors may also have interest in Durant. The Clippers have been linked to KD as well. Additionally, the Suns are reportedly dangling Durant for the Rockets in an attempt to regain some of their draft capital from the franchise. While there was initially some speculation the 76ers may have interest in Durant using the No. 3 overall pick, NBA insider Marc Stein has debunked those theories. More: Kevin Durant's journeyman career is kinda sad Jason Kidd When the Knicks decided to move on from Tom Thibodeau, there were several candidates who we believed could take over for him. (There were also a few candidates, like Jay Wright, who we speculated are unlikely to take the job.) Although he is currently employed by the Mavericks, one name to keep an eye on is Jason Kidd. More: Jason Kidd may have to choose between the Knicks and Cooper Flagg New York would likely need to include a draft pick to acquire Kidd from Dallas and, per Windhorst, there is "mutual intrigue" between the two parties. Dallas would have to grant permission for New York to interview Kidd, however, and may not have much incentive to do that unless they had a different head coach in mind to replace him.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Bill Plaschke reveals Parkinson's disease diagnosis: 'It hurts to even say it.'
Bill Plaschke reveals Parkinson's disease diagnosis: 'It hurts to even say it.' Show Caption Hide Caption Kon Knueppel on the drive of former Duke teammate Cooper Flagg Kon Knueppel chats with Bryan Kalbrosky ahead of the NBA Draft about his former teammate Cooper Flagg and what makes him special Sports Seriously Bill Plaschke, the award-winning Los Angeles Times columnist and longtime "Around the Horn" panelist on ESPN, revealed this week that he has Parkinson's disease. He made the announcement as part of an LA Times column about a boxing program he attends for those trying to slow the effects of the condition. "I've got Parkinson's, and it hurts to even say it," Plaschke wrote. "I'm still mobile, still active, I don't have the trademark tremors that distinguish the famously afflicted Michael J. Fox or the late Muhammed Ali but, damn it, I've got it." Plaschke, 66, noted that he was diagnosed with Parkinson's four years ago after feeling weakness in his right arm, but had only told his family until now. The neurodegenerative disease has no cure and progressively impacts how a person moves and speaks. OPINION: Don't forget harsh price NFL players pay Plaschke wrote that it's a struggle for him to get dressed and "my pills come in gallon jugs and I spend entire Dodger games trying to discreetly swallow them in the press box." "I don't smile as much now," he added. "It's harder to smile when afflicted with the trademark Parkinson's masked face. When I FaceTime with my darlin Daisy, I worry she won't see past my dour expression and never know how much her granddaddy loves her." Plaschke has written for the Los Angeles Times since 1988 and became a sports columnist there in 1996. He has been named the national sports columnist of the year by the Associated Press Sports Editors nine times and is a member of the National Sports Media Hall of Fame and California Sports Hall of Fame. He was also one of the original panelists on "Around the Horn," beginning in 2002, and remained a regular contributor to the show until its 23-year run ended last month. Plaschke sounded a hopeful note at the end of his column, citing the inspiration provided by Kaizen Kinetics and everyone else dealing with Parkinson's disease through its boxing program. "I have Parkinson's," Plaschke wrote, "But, by God, it doesn't have me."
