After the Spurs beat the Los Angeles Lakers 132-119 on Wednesday evening to safe a Cup semifinal recreation towards Oklahoma Metropolis, coach Mitch Johnson indicated his famous person middle is likely to be able to return from his four-week harm absence.
“Very a lot so,” Johnson mentioned. “He had a very good day immediately. He had a really intense day this morning, and we’ll should see how he responds or reacts (Thursday).”
Johnson mentioned Wembanyama went via a vigorous exercise on the Spurs’ morning shootaround in Los Angeles. The 7-foot-4 Frenchman labored out on the court docket once more throughout pregame warmups on the Lakers’ downtown enviornment with no further safety on his strained left calf, which has stored him out for 12 straight video games since Nov. 14.
Wembanyama averaged 26.2 factors, 12.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists and three.6 blocks in 12 video games earlier than getting shut down by harm. He has eased his means again into on-court exercise, additionally doing pregame work earlier than the Spurs’ win at New Orleans on Monday.
That further work is likely to be over quickly, and simply in time for San Antonio’s hopes of Cup rivalry: The Spurs face the defending NBA champion Thunder on Saturday evening in Las Vegas. The winner is within the Cup title recreation on Tuesday.
The Spurs are a formidable 9-3 with out Wembanyama, trying very very similar to a burgeoning powerhouse with a talent-rich roster following six consecutive non-playoff seasons.
“I feel Victor would let you know we have now a deep group, and we rely on taking part in collectively as a group,” Johnson mentioned. “He often is the largest puzzle piece, however he wants all people else to finish the puzzle.”
Stephon Fort, final season’s Rookie of the Yr, had 30 factors and 10 rebounds in Los Angeles whereas main the Spurs to a strong win over Luka Doncic and the Lakers.
Eight Spurs scored not less than eight factors, with De’Aaron Fox getting 20. Keldon Johnson added 17, whereas Harrison Barnes and Julian Champagnie had 16 apiece as San Antonio stayed comfortably forward.
“I felt like we got here collectively and clamped down after we wanted it most,” Fort mentioned. “Simply understanding the stakes of the sport … I really feel like we did the little issues extra tonight than every other recreation.”
