Sandro Mamukelashvili plays 9.1 minutes per game for the San Antonio Spurs and came into Wednesday night's game averaging 5.6 points. so not many people had their eyes fixed on him going into the matchup against the New York Knicks. But the 6'11" lefty went off to a historic length, setting an NBA record by pouring in 34 points in just 19 minutes of action.
A CAREER night for Sandro Mamukelashvili ‼️
— NBA (@NBA) March 20, 2025
34 PTS
13-14 FGM
7-7 3PM
9 REB
...in only 19 minutes played 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Rqd35fPhZl
It's the highest total of any player getting less than 20 minutes of floor time since 1951-52 when minutes became an official stat. It's sort of funny to think that they didn't use to keep track of minutes but then again the concept of load management was just a glimmer in someone's eye 73 years ago.
"I've been waiting for this day for a long time," Mamukelashvili 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?'"
To sweeten the deal, Mamukelashvili happened to have the game of his life with his good friend Flava Flav sitting courtside. It's unclear how looking at the rapper's enormous timepiece helped the Spurs big man maximize his efficiency but one has to think it played some small role.
The postgame scenes were great as Mamukelashvili was mobbed by his teammates and seemed genuinely thrilled by the unexpected night.
We’re getting Flava Flav postgame interviews now pic.twitter.com/JjRQYI8MeN
— WinkyChrist (@winkychrist) March 20, 2025
Vet move by Chris Paul to get the game ball for Sandro Mamukelashvili, who had a dominant night. pic.twitter.com/T8RGawgsvn
— Josh Paredes (@Josh810) March 20, 2025
Always a good reminder that the completely unexpected can happen.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Spurs Reserve Comes off Bench to Set Surprising NBA Scoring Record.
