Although Victor Wembanyama sat out the San Antonio Spurs‘ 112-101 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night, the Frenchman participated in shootaround earlier in the day, which bodes well for his chances to play one of his team’s final three games to maintain eligibility for end-of-season awards.
Spurs veteran Harrison Barnes was asked how Wemby looked in shootaround.
“I can’t tell you too much of how looked, but he heals fast,” Barnes said of Wemby.
Spurs fans were obviously elated to hear Barnes’ words as they prepare for their beloved franchise to return to the playoffs for the first time in six years.
Victor Wembanyama Injury Update
Earlier on Wednesday, NBA insiders Shams Charania and Chris Haynes both confirmed that Wemby survived a scare after sustaining a rib injury in a collision with Paul George in the second quarter of Monday’s win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
“Sources: San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama (rib contusion) underwent a clean MRI and avoided a serious injury. He will be ruled day-to-day moving forward,” Haynes reported on X.
“Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is listed doubtful to play in Wednesday’s game against Portland due to a rib contusion but there’s confidence he will play at least one of the team’s final three regular-season games,” Charania reported on X.
The 22-year-old Victor Wembanyama needs to play just 20 minutes in one of the Spurs’ final three games to capture his first Defensive Player of the Year award. Once that arbitrary stat is recorded, the Spurs could rest their best player until the playoffs, as revealed by Spurs head caoch Mitch Johnson on Wednesday.
Spurs Lock Up No. 2 Seed
“It’s a lot of collaboration,” Johnson said Wednesday when asked how he plans to keep his players healthy for the playoffs, via San Antonio Express-News.
“It’s the player at the forefront and the medical performance and the coaches and everybody in between. And not everybody is on the same plan. Not everybody’s feeling the same things or under the same circumstances in terms of maybe their health or being sharp or what they need.
“And there’s an individual aspect for that and then there’s a group aspect for that. And we’re trying our best to keep improving and staying sharp by also being mindful that we’ve been attacking this deal since October and we’re not done in two games.”
Wemby cheered his teammates from the bench on Wednesday as the Spurs pulled off an impressive 112-101 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Even with Wemby and Stephon Castle sidelined by injuries, the Spurs found a way against a tricky Trail Blazers, improving to an incredible 28-3 since Feb. 1.
While De’Aaron Fox led the way with 25 points and seven assists, Sixth Man of the Year favorite Keldon Johnson added 20 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
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