In a loss to the Knicks, the Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama posted 42 points, 18 rebounds, four assists and four blocks, a stat line matched only once since 1991.

Wembanyama and Knicks guard Mikal Bridges, who scored a season-high 41 points, became the first pair of opposing players with 40 or more on Christmas since 1961, when Hall of Famers Elgin Baylor and Oscar Robertson each hit that mark in a Lakers victory over Cincinnati.

On Wednesday afternoon, Victor Wembanyama played the role of the Frenchman who tried to steal Christmas. His role comes a year after a poor performance in his Madison Square Garden debut just eight games into his NBA career: 14 points on 4-of-14 shooting to go along with nine rebounds and a block.