San Antonio’s standout big man Victor Wembanyama was unable to return after halftime in Monday’s matchup with Philadelphia following a left rib injury he suffered when he collided with 76ers forward Paul George during the second quarter.
The future availability of the All-Star player remains unclear following the incident.
The young center made two trips to San Antonio’s locker room during the second quarter after the contact with George, but managed to stay on the floor through the end of the first half.
After the Spurs secured a 115-102 win, head coach Mitch Johnson addressed the situation, stating: “At halftime, I was told he wasn’t coming back. I haven’t heard anything else up to this point. I think it would be a positive that he felt like he could come back, and he played the last four or five minutes of the half. So, that’s a positive from my perspective.”
During his 16 minutes of action, Wembanyama contributed 17 points, five rebounds, and three blocked shots, with his playing time officially counting toward postseason award eligibility requirements.
The 22-year-old French center has emerged as a candidate for the league’s Most Valuable Player award during his third season, currently posting averages of 24.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and a league-leading 3.1 blocks per contest.
Monday’s contest marked Wembanyama’s 64th appearance this season, counting the NBA Cup championship game that doesn’t typically factor into statistical records. To be eligible for end-of-season honors, players must participate in at least 65 games, and San Antonio has three contests left on their schedule.
