LOS ANGELES — Rookie center Victor Wembanyama will accompany the San Antonio Spurs to Southern California for Wednesday’s NBA In-Season Tournament quarterfinal against the Los Angeles Lakers, head coach Mitch Johnson confirmed.
Spurs
Wembanyama practiced in full on Sunday but sat out again Monday, marking his 11th consecutive absence after a left calf strain suffered on Nov. 15. Although the team has not set a firm return date, Johnson said the 7-foot-4 No. 1 overall pick’s presence on the trip is an encouraging step.
Before the injury, the 19-year-old was averaging 26.0 points, 12.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists and more than 3.0 blocks over 12 games, numbers that matched the franchise’s expectations when it selected him first in the 2023 draft.
Knicks
In New York, forward Josh Hart emphasized that the Knicks must advance past the quarterfinals after falling at this stage in each of the past two tournaments. “Every year we fell short at this stage, so we’ve got to get over that hump,” Hart said.
The Knicks open knockout play Tuesday in Toronto. A victory would send them to Las Vegas on Saturday to face the winner of the Miami-Orlando matchup. Head coach Mike Brown embraced the spotlight, saying, “Life is short. You want excitement. This is about as close as you can get to simulating a playoff run, so you embrace the pressure.”
Lakers
The Lakers are monitoring guard Marcus Smart, who has missed six straight games with a left lumbar muscle strain. The former Defensive Player of the Year worked out Sunday in Philadelphia, and coach JJ Redick said the club is targeting Wednesday’s meeting with San Antonio while keeping him on a day-to-day timeline.
Source: Hoops Wire
