Victor Wembanyama showed no lingering effects from right-ankle soreness on Saturday, powering the San Antonio Spurs past the Charlotte Hornets with 32 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, four blocks and two steals. The victory pushed San Antonio to an NBA-best 17-2 record since February 1.
“We’ve had to be in a lot of different types of games,” head coach Mitch Johnson said, noting the value of the recent run for a young roster. “All these experiences are, hopefully, lessons we turn into knowledge and wisdom moving forward.”
Balancing health and award eligibility
Wembanyama is expected to be a leading candidate for Defensive Player of the Year and could enter the MVP conversation, but league rules require a minimum of 65 appearances. After Saturday, the rookie can miss only three more games this season. Johnson acknowledged the difficulty of protecting the 20-year-old’s long-term health while keeping him eligible for postseason honors.
“Victor has the longest list of things he wants to do that are important, probably, in the history of basketball,” Johnson said. “At times, we have to make tough decisions.”
Injury updates
Rookie guard Dylan Harper sat out Saturday with a right calf contusion and is listed as day-to-day. Johnson said the team does not expect any lasting issues.
Double-big wrinkle featuring Kornet
Wembanyama reconnected with Luke Kornet for two third-quarter alley-oop dunks, reviving the fan-favored “French Vanilla” frontcourt. Still, Johnson labeled the pairing a “math problem” because Kornet typically logs minutes when Wembanyama rests, and limited practice time makes in-game experimentation difficult.
Sudden surge from three
Long a weakness, San Antonio’s three-point shooting has spiked; entering Saturday, the club was tied with Charlotte for the league’s best mark from deep since the All-Star break. The roster remains largely unchanged, and Johnson credits an uptick in pace, cleaner spacing and sharper execution for the improvement.
Source: Hoops Rumors
