Historic Scoring Explosion by Sandro Mamukelashvili Shocks Fans!

Hello, this is Dan Gartland. I’m eagerly anticipating a last-second game-winner in today’s slate of tournament games.

In today’s SI:AM:

Victors and villains in Providence
Big Ten’s increased tempo
Awaited decisions on Rodgers

San Antonio’s Unsung Sharpshooter

Eleven NBA games took place Wednesday evening, featuring eight players who scored 30 or more points. This group included top talents like Luka Doncic, Devin Booker, and Karl-Anthony Towns, along with rising stars Evan Mobley and Paolo Banchero, and also Sandro Mamukelashvili.

If you’re asking “Sandro who?” you wouldn’t be the only one. Throughout his four-year NBA tenure, Mamukelashvili has mostly warmed the bench. However, the towering player from San Antonio marked a milestone in his career during a victorious game against the New York Knicks on Wednesday.

Stepping off the bench, Mamukelashvili racked up 34 points in just 19 minutes, with an incredible shooting performance of 13-of-14 from the field and a perfect 7-of-7 from beyond the arc, along with grabbing nine rebounds. The Spurs outperformed the Knicks by 22 points with him on the court, securing a 120–105 victory, one of only a few in their recent games.

Mamukelashvili is the first-ever player in NBA history to score 34 points in just 19 minutes of play, and among the rare few to score at least 30 in such a limited amount of time, ever since the league started recording playing time in the 1974–75 season.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a very long time,” Mamukelashvili remarked. “It’s hard to describe my feelings right now. It feels surreal, like a dream. I’ve visualized and prayed for it. I was slightly disbelieving as it happened, wondering, ‘Is this real?’”

This game was undeniably the pinnacle of Mamukelashvili’s professional career. Prior to Wednesday, he had only scored as many points as the letters in his name (20) on four occasions. His previous best was 28 points on April 10, 2022, during his time with the Milwaukee Bucks, in a game where all starters were rested. His next highest scores were 23 points on April 9, 2023, and 21 points on April 12, 2024—both scored during the final days of their respective seasons.

Mamukelashvili’s NBA journey has been under the radar. A three-star recruit out of high school, he played four years at Seton Hall before being picked 54th overall in the 2021 NBA draft. After a stint on a two-way contract with the Bucks, he was waived in March 2023 and picked up by the Spurs. He re-signed with San Antonio last summer on a one-year, minimum salary contract. As he approaches unrestricted free agency again at the season’s end, performances like Wednesday’s could help secure his future in the league.

Highlights from Sports Illustrated

• Refresh your memory with our expert’s predictions for the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments before today’s games begin.

• The notorious mafia stronghold of Providence serves as the ideal venue to host Rick Pitino, John Calipari, Bill Self, and Will Wade, as noted by Pat Forde.

• Kevin Sweeney examines the Big Ten men’s basketball teams’ shift to a quicker pace and its potential impact on NCAA tournament outcomes.

• Conor Orr discusses why Aaron Rodgers’s decision-making process may continue to be prolonged.

• Gilberto Manzano highlights these five NFL teams that have significantly bolstered their rosters during free agency.

• Bob Harig, Jeff Ritter, and John Pluym debate whether Rory McIlroy should be favored over reigning champion Scottie Scheffler at next month’s Masters.

• The Department of Defense reinstated an article on its website about Jackie Robinson’s military service after it was removed amid the department’s current anti-diversity initiatives.

• Today’s matchup against Clemson could be Will Wade’s final game as the coach of McNeese State. He’s reportedly set to become the new head coach at NC State.

Top Five Highlights

… moments I witnessed last night:

5. Nebraska first baseman Tyler Stone’s hidden ball trick to close an inning.
4. The novel camera angles used by NBC Sports California for the Kings-Cavs game.
3. Flava Flav’s surprise appearance in Sandro Mamukelashvili’s postgame interview.
2. The Maple Leafs’ game-sealing short-handed goal, which came about after the puck hit a referee.
1. Cade Cunningham’s dramatic last-second shot that led the Pistons to a win over the Heat.