Victor Wembanyama Leads Surging Spurs Into Chicago With Nine-Game Streak
The San Antonio Spurs are quickly becoming one of the most dangerous teams in the NBA, and Victor Wembanyama is giving opponents very few reasons to believe they can slow them down.
After an impressive turnaround from their opening two defeats, the Spurs have put together nine consecutive victories. Their latest performance was particularly frightening for the rest of the league, with Wembanyama producing another extraordinary display against the Phoenix Suns.
Now, San Antonio takes its winning momentum to Chicago on Wednesday night, with the opportunity to extend its remarkable run to 10 games. However, the struggling Bulls will be desperate to make life difficult for a team that currently looks capable of beating almost anybody.
Wembanyama Is Making Extraordinary Performances Look Normal
Wembanyama continues to raise expectations with performances that would represent career nights for almost any other NBA player.
The French superstar was once again at the centre of everything when San Antonio defeated Phoenix 122-96 on Monday, November 9. He finished with 40 points, 11 rebounds and eight blocks, shooting an incredible 15-of-19 from the field.
Even more impressive was how little time he needed to produce those numbers.
Wembanyama played just 25 minutes, allowing the Spurs to rest their leading players for much of the fourth quarter after establishing a commanding advantage.
His performance included 22 points, six rebounds and five blocks before halftime. San Antonio also produced a devastating 21-2 run during the first half, creating the separation that Phoenix struggled to overcome.
It was another reminder that Wembanyama is becoming an increasingly difficult problem for opposing coaches.
His combination of size, shooting ability, mobility and defensive awareness creates situations that conventional defensive strategies simply cannot solve.
The remarkable part is that he is still finding ways to improve.
Speaking about his development, Wembanyama explained: “It’s mostly decision-making, really, because I’m not doing anything that I was not able to do, physically able to do, 12 months ago.”
That comment is particularly interesting because it suggests his improvement is not necessarily about discovering new physical abilities. Instead, he is becoming smarter about using the extraordinary tools he already possesses.
For the rest of the NBA, that should be an uncomfortable thought.
The Spurs Have Found Their Winning Formula
Wembanyama deserves plenty of attention, but San Antonio’s nine-game winning streak is not simply the result of one superstar carrying an entire team.
The supporting cast has played an important role in turning the Spurs into a genuine threat.
De’Aaron Fox provides experience, speed and another scoring option, while rookie Dylan Harper is showing why the franchise has so much confidence in its young talent.
Harper contributed 17 points against Phoenix, including 14 in the third quarter. Fox added 15, while Julian Champagnie and Harrison Barnes both finished with 11 points.
That balance is becoming one of San Antonio’s biggest strengths.
Opponents cannot concentrate entirely on stopping Wembanyama because there are other players capable of punishing defensive mistakes. When teams send extra defenders towards the Frenchman, the Spurs have enough offensive options to take advantage.
Head coach Mitch Johnson has also noticed the maturity developing within his group.
“They’ve shown some maturity these last few games in terms of just the disposition they’re playing with,” Johnson said.
That is an important observation.
San Antonio began the campaign with two consecutive defeats, but the response has been outstanding. Rather than allowing a disappointing start to damage their confidence, the players have steadily developed the consistency required to compete at a much higher level.
The nine victories have also included several convincing performances, demonstrating that this is more than a team surviving close contests.
According to the latest game reports, San Antonio has been particularly effective at both ends of the floor, with its defensive pressure creating opportunities to turn stops into transition points.
Chicago Have a Difficult Assignment Ahead
Unfortunately for the Bulls, their timing could hardly be worse.
Chicago enters Wednesday’s meeting on a seven-game losing streak, having struggled to find consistent performances during the opening portion of the campaign.
Their latest defeat came against the Philadelphia 76ers, who escaped with a 127-121 victory on Sunday.
There were some encouraging signs for Chicago, however.
Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis each scored 19 points, while rookie Caleb Wilson contributed 18. Every member of the Bulls’ starting lineup reached double figures.
Giddey also helped create opportunities for his teammates, finishing with 15 assists.
Bulls coach Tiago Splitter was encouraged by the improved ball movement, particularly after watching his team struggle offensively during previous games.
“Overall, I think we are making quicker decisions. Not just going in iso situations, way less this game, way less,” Splitter said.
He also highlighted the importance of moving the ball and getting into the paint to create better offensive opportunities.
Those improvements matter because Chicago cannot afford another performance filled with rushed possessions and defensive mistakes against San Antonio.
The Bulls need their young players to be aggressive, but they must also make intelligent decisions. Giving Wembanyama opportunities to control the paint could turn an already difficult assignment into an even bigger problem.
Wembanyama Has Previous Success Against Chicago
There is another reason Bulls supporters might be concerned about this matchup.
Wembanyama has already demonstrated that he can cause serious problems for Chicago’s defence.
He recorded 41 points and 16 rebounds when the Spurs defeated the Bulls 129-114 on March 30, 2026.
That performance demonstrated how difficult it can be to contain him when he gets comfortable offensively.
The Bulls have actually enjoyed some success in the wider recent head-to-head series, winning seven of their previous 10 meetings with San Antonio before Wednesday’s contest.
However, the Spurs arrive with victories in their last two meetings, and the circumstances surrounding this latest encounter are considerably different.
San Antonio has developed into a much more confident and organised team, while Chicago is still searching for answers.
The Bulls will need something special to reverse that situation.
Can San Antonio Make It 10 Consecutive Wins?
Wednesday’s meeting represents another opportunity for the Spurs to demonstrate that their impressive run is no coincidence.
A 10th consecutive victory would further strengthen their position among the Western Conference’s leading teams and send another warning to potential playoff opponents.
There is also an interesting challenge waiting beyond Chicago.
The Spurs are approaching a meeting with the Golden State Warriors, who have also enjoyed an impressive winning run. A potential showdown between two teams playing with so much confidence could become one of the more interesting early-season matchups.
However, San Antonio cannot afford to overlook the Bulls while thinking about what comes next.
The biggest question is whether Wembanyama can maintain his extraordinary production without putting unnecessary pressure on himself. His recent performances have been spectacular, but the Spurs need to ensure their success remains a collective effort.
There are also some team-selection questions to monitor. Devin Vassell was listed as questionable with left adductor tightness ahead of the Chicago game, while the Bulls were monitoring Norman Powell’s availability because of back and shoulder issues.
The Spurs Are Becoming a Serious Threat
It is still relatively early in the 2026-27 NBA season, so declaring San Antonio championship favourites would be premature.
Nevertheless, there are plenty of reasons to take this team seriously.
Wembanyama is producing numbers that put him among the league’s most exciting performers, and his improvement in decision-making makes him even more dangerous.
Meanwhile, Fox, Harper and the supporting cast are giving the Spurs the depth and offensive variety needed to compete against stronger opposition.
The biggest test will be maintaining this consistency when the competition becomes tougher and the pressure increases.
For Chicago, this is an opportunity to produce a statement performance and finally end a frustrating losing streak. But the Bulls will need considerably more than individual scoring contributions to overcome a San Antonio team playing with this much confidence.
The Spurs have already shown what they can do during their nine-game winning streak. Now, Wembanyama and his teammates have another chance to make the rest of the NBA pay attention.
Can the Bulls finally stop San Antonio, or will Wembanyama lead the Spurs to a 10th consecutive victory?
What do you think? Are the Spurs genuine championship contenders this season?