San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama did not start the second half of Monday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers. The MVP candidate remained in the Spurs’ locker room while his teammates resumed the game without him.
The Spurs announced later that Wemby would not return to the game due to a rib injury.
Wembanyama fell after colliding with 76ers forward Paul George in the second quarter. He finished the first half but will sit out the rest of the game.
A serious injury could be costly for the Spurs and the 7-foot-4 Frenchman, who is also the heavy favorite to win the Defensive Player of the Year award. San Antonio looks like the biggest threat to end the OKC Thunder’s reign, with Wemby anchoring the team on both ends. If he is out for an extended period, surviving the Western Conference playoffs will be challenging.
Victor Wembanyama is also two games short of meeting the NBA’s minimum game requirement for end-of-season awards. If he fails to play 65 games, he will be ineligible.
The Spurs’ decision to prevent Wembanyama from returning to the game could also be an act of extra caution. The Athletic’s Jared Weiss, who has covered the team the entire season, reported:
“Wemby just ran back onto the floor during the timeout and looks fine.”
The Spurs are assured of the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference, so having a healthy Wemby is their top concern. Many will be waiting for an update on the superstar center’s status after the game.
Spurs Trying To Hold off 76ers Without Victor Wembanyama
The Spurs held a 62-55 lead entering the second half without Victor Wembanyama, who finished the first half with 17 points and five rebounds.
De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper and Keldon Johnson are doing the heavy lifting for the Spurs. With nine minutes left, they combined to push San Antonio’s lead to 100-89.
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