ATLANTA (AP) — Victor Wembanyama joined an exclusive club on Friday night, recording his 100th consecutive regular-season game with at least one block in the San Antonio Spurs' 126-98 win against the Atlanta Hawks.
The Spurs center led the charge with a team-high 26 points, 12 assists and two blocks. Wembanyama rejected a shot from Hawks' Dyson Daniels with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter, spiking it off the backboard. He finished the game with two blocks, later swatting down a layup from rookie Asa Newell.
The streak dates to his rookie season. His last regular-season game without a block was on Jan. 10, 2024, against the Detroit Pistons.
Only two players have accomplished this feat before. Patrick Ewing recorded 145 consecutive games with at least one block, and Dikembe Mutombo's streak reached 116 games. Mutombo is second in the NBA record books with 3,289 overall, behind only Hakeem Olajuwon (3,830). Blocks became an official NBA statistic during the 1973-1974 season.
Wembanyama is up to 51 blocks this season. He missed 12 games after exiting a Nov. 14 loss to Golden State with a calf strain. He returned to game action on Dec. 13 in the NBA Cup semifinals and helped the Spurs to a 111-109 win against the Thunder with 22 points.
The Spurs (20-7) reached their 20th win over a month before they did last season. Wembanyama and Co. face the Washington Wizards on the road on Sunday night before returning back to San Antonio to host the Thunder.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) shoots against San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart scored extra-attacker goals in the final minutes to lead a furious comeback, Evan Rodrigues got the winning goal in the shootout and the Florida Panthers stunned the Carolina Hurricanes with a 4-3 victory on Friday night.
Brad Marchand also scored for Florida, which trailed 3-0 midway through the third and still was down 3-1 with less than five minutes left. The NHL said it was the first time Florida won a game when down by three goals in the final 10 minutes of regulation.
With Sergei Bobrovsky being pulled for an extra attacker with about 4:40 left, Bennett scored quickly to make it 3-2 and Reinhart connected with 41.8 seconds left to knot the game at 3-3.
It was Florida's second three-goal comeback in less than two weeks. The Panthers also rallied from three down to top Columbus 7-6 on Dec. 6.
Sebastian Aho scored two third-period goals for the second consecutive game for the Hurricanes, whose five-game winning streak was snapped. Jordan Staal also scored for Carolina.
Goaltender Brandon Bussi — who was in camp with the Panthers this fall before being claimed by the Hurricanes — had 38 saves and lost for just the second time in 13 starts this season.
Marchand's goal was his 20th of the season for Florida, making him the third-oldest player to reach that number with the Panthers. Jaromir Jagr did it at 43, Joe Nieuwendyk did it at 39. Marchand, in his first full season with Florida, is 37.
Bobrovsky stopped 26 shots for Florida, which now has won seven of its last eight games.
Staal scored at 11:53 of the first put Carolina up 1-0, and it stayed that way until Aho scored on a breakout early in the third. Aho struck again on the power play with 12:26 left, about a minute after Marchand was called for cross-checking — a play that left the Panthers bench in disbelief.
Marchand scored midway through the third, and the rally was on.
Hurricanes: Visit Tampa Bay on Saturday.
Panthers: Host St. Louis on Saturday.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, center, celebrates with center Sam Reinhart, right, and left wing A.J. Greer (10) after making the winning save during overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi (32) makes a save against Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett as left wing Brad Marchand (63) closes in during overtime of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, center, celebrates with center Sam Reinhart, right, and left wing A.J. Greer (10) after making the winning save during overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi (32) leaves the ice after losing an NHL hockey game in overtime against the Florida Panthers, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) celebrates with teammates after an NHL hockey game overtime win against the Carolina Hurricanes, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)
Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) celebrates after a goal with teammate Eric Robinson (50) as Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) looks on during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)
Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand (63) looks to pass the puck as Carolina Hurricanes left wing William Carrier, left, defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)
Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett collides into Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi (32) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin (74) blocks the shot of Florida Panthers right wing Mackie Samoskevich (11) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)
Florida Panthers left wing A.J. Greer and Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker collide into goaltender Brandon Bussi during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)
