OKLAHOMA CITY — The San Antonio Spurs will maintain rookie Victor Wembanyama out of Wednesday evening’s recreation in opposition to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder due to proper ankle damage administration.
The Spurs are taking part in on a back-to-back and are being cautious with Wembanyama, who has performed in 70 video games this season.
Wembanyama expressed his want to play however Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and the group made the decision to relaxation him after touring into Oklahoma Metropolis after a win in Memphis in opposition to the Grizzlies on Tuesday evening.
“We will discuss it out,” Popovich mentioned after Tuesday’s recreation. “It is a query as a result of we have held him out plenty of the back-to-backs. As soon as when he had that foot factor and now down the stretch, I am undecided it makes a lot sense to push it.”
Wembanyama rolled his proper ankle thrice in a span of 12 days in December and the group had him on a minutes restriction and held him out of back-to-backs for a month after that.
He final missed a recreation on March 25 in opposition to the Phoenix Suns due to a left ankle sprain. He rolled his proper ankle in opposition to the Pelicans on April 5 however completed that recreation and wasn’t on any restrictions within the Spurs’ previous two video games.
He’s anticipated to be obtainable for the Spurs’ subsequent recreation Friday at house in opposition to the Denver Nuggets. San Antonio wraps up the season Sunday in opposition to the Detroit Pistons.
With Wembanyama out, there will not be a matchup of the anticipated high two vote-getters within the Rookie of the Yr race with Chet Holmgren set to go well with up for the Thunder.
Holmgren, the No. 2 total choose within the 2022 NBA draft, has performed in all 79 video games this season for Oklahoma Metropolis after lacking final 12 months due to a foot damage.
San Antonio may also be with out Keldon Johnson (left foot sprain), Devin Vassell (proper foot stress response), Jeremy Sochan (left ankle impingement) and Cedi Osman (proper ankle sprain). The group additionally may very well be with out Malaki Branham, who’s listed as questionable for the Thunder recreation with a proper hip contusion.
Oklahoma Metropolis says Lu Dort (relaxation) will miss the sport whereas Jaylin Williams (low again contusion) and Gordon Hayward (left posterior tibialis pressure) are each questionable.
