With the 115-102 win over the Sixers, the Spurs have won 28 of their last 31 games. They are second in the West, although with so little left in the regular season, it is almost impossible for them to catch the Thunder. However, one major concern looms over San Antonio: the health of Victor Wembanyama, who had to leave the game with a rib injury.
The French prodigy went to the locker room in the second quarter after colliding with Paul George when he was trying to get out on the fast break. He lay on the floor in pain and then went to the locker room. Although he returned and played five more minutes, he asked coach Mitch Johnson to substitute him with 44 seconds left in the first half. He did not play at all in the second half. He finished with 17 points, five rebounds and three blocks in 16 minutes on the court.
After the game, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said he had no news on a possible injury to Wembanyama: “At halftime they told me he wasn’t coming back. I haven’t heard anything since then. I think it’s positive that he felt he could come back and play the last four or five minutes of the first half. So from my point of view, it’s a positive thing.”
Without the French center, Stephon Castle led the Spurs with 17 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds. It was the point guard’s fifth triple-double. Luke Kornet, who took Wembanyama’s place after the break, had 10+3. For the Sixers, the best was Joel Embiid, who finished with 34 points and 12 rebounds.
