San Antonio Spurs rookie ahead/heart Victor Wembanyama has been downgraded to out for Monday evening’s residence recreation in opposition to the Phoenix Suns due to a sprained left ankle.
This might be his ninth recreation missed general. No timetable was given for Wembanyama’s return. The 7-foot-4 massive man was dominated out after taking part in San Antonio’s morning shootaround to check his ankle.
Wembanyama sustained the damage throughout Saturday’s 131-106 loss to Phoenix. He was sidelined for the fourth quarter with the Suns main by as many as 32 factors.
Per a number of NBA betting websites, Wembanyama is the odds-on favourite to win NBA Rookie of the 12 months. Sportsbooks are nonetheless displaying nice odds for Oklahoma Metropolis’s Chet Holmgren.
Spurs say Victor Wembanyama might be OUT tonight with that ankle sprain. Dom Barlow has been recalled to San Antonio.
— Matthew Tynan (@Matthew_Tynan) March 25, 2024
The French phenom had 13 factors, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and a blocked shot in 21 minutes in opposition to Phoenix. Plus, he shot 5-of-7 (71.4%) from the sphere and made a pair of free throws.
By way of 63 video games (all begins), San Antonio’s No. 1 decide in final 12 months’s draft is averaging 20.7 factors, 10.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, an NBA-leading 3.4 blocks, 1.3 steals, and 29 minutes per recreation.
Wemby additionally leads the league with 217 blocks.
San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama (sprained left ankle) has been downgraded to out vs. Phoenix Suns
In San Antonio’s 113-107 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on March 19, Wembanyama recorded his twentieth profession recreation with at the least 5 blocks in every, probably the most by an NBA participant earlier than turning 21 years outdated.
Shaquille O’Neal ranks second on the all-time checklist with 19 video games, adopted by Anthony Davis (14), Josh Smith (13), and Kevin Garnett (10).
Moreover, in San Antonio’s 122-99 loss in opposition to the Toronto Raptors on Feb. 12, Wemby notched 27 factors, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, two steals, and a career-high 10 blocks in 28 minutes performed.
He grew to become the fifth NBA participant since 1990 to register a triple-double with at the least 25 factors, 10 rebounds, and 10 blocks in a single recreation.
Spherical 2️⃣ vs PHX!
🆚 @Suns
⏰ 7pm CT
📍 @FrostBankCenter
📺 @BallySportsSA
📻 @1200WOAI, @kxtn1350 @HEB | @MichelobULTRA | #sponsored pic.twitter.com/EJ2acAUkL7— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) March 25, 2024
It was additionally the primary triple-double with blocks since Clint Capela had 13 factors, 19 rebounds, and 10 blocks for the Atlanta Hawks in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Jan. 22, 2021.
Regardless of Wembanyama’s unbelievable rookie season, the Spurs are presently on tempo to complete with the worst document in franchise historical past. The Spurs (15-56) should win six of their final 11 video games to complete higher than 20-62, the franchise’s worst document set in 1997.
San Antonio is winless in its final eight conferences at residence versus Phoenix. The membership enters this matchup on a three-game skid as properly. The Spurs have misplaced eight of their final 10 video games.
NBA sportsbooks present the Spurs as heavy 12.5-point underdogs in opposition to Phoenix. They struggled to compete even with Victor Wembanyama.
Per ESPN’s Basketball Energy Index, the Suns maintain a 78.1% probability of defeating San Antonio. This recreation will air dwell on Bally Sports activities Southwest and NBA League Cross at 8 p.m. ET.