Jan 31, 2025; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs heart Victor Wembanyama (1) dunks over Milwaukee Bucks ahead Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) throughout the second half at Frost Financial institution Middle. Obligatory Credit score: Scott Wachter-Imagn Photographs The San Antonio Spurs seemingly could have second-year star Victor Wembanyama again within the lineup once they go to the surging Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night time.
Whether or not newly acquired De’Aaron Fox is on the journey is much less seemingly.
A number of stories late Sunday had the eight-year veteran level guard going from Sacramento to San Antonio as a part of a three-team commerce that concerned the Chicago Bulls sending Zach LaVine to the Kings.
Fox is averaging 25 factors, 6.1 assists and 5 rebounds a recreation and will make the 7-foot-3 Wembanyama an excellent stronger offensive weapon.
Wembanyama missed Saturday’s last-second loss to the Miami Warmth, a late scratch because of an sickness that isn’t thought of critical.
“Clearly, (Wembanyama) wasn’t feeling 100% (towards Miami),” Spurs interim coach Mitch Johnson stated. “I count on it to be minor. It did not sound prefer it was something drastic or excessive.”
Fox shall be a welcome addition. The Spurs have misplaced six of their final eight video games however did submit an overwhelming win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday. Within the 144-118 victory, Wenbanyama had 30 factors, 14 rebounds and 6 blocks.
Wenbanyama informed the media after Saturday’s 105-103 loss to Miami that he was affected by allergy symptoms. He was scratched from the lineup 40 minutes earlier than tipoff.
Because the All-Star break approaches, Wenbanyama leads the NBA with a median of 4 blocks per recreation and has a minimum of one block in 77 consecutive video games. He’s averaging 24.6 factors, 10.9 rebounds and three.7 assists and shall be a Western Convention reserve within the All-Star Sport.
Memphis, in the meantime, is on a mid-season roll. The Grizzlies have received two straight video games with out star guard Ja Morant (proper shoulder damage) and eight of their previous 9 general. Additionally they are 20-5 at house this season.
The Grizzlies rallied to beat the Bucks 132-119 on Sunday behind a robust fourth quarter, a determined rebounding edge (61-36) and 37 factors from Jaren Jackson Jr. Memphis outscored the Bucks 39-20 within the last interval.
“Our tempo, we simply tried to put on them down within the fourth quarter,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins stated. “We had nice contributions from everybody.”
Whereas Jackson led the Grizzlies in scoring and linked on seven 3-pointers, Memphis obtained 22 factors and 9 rebounds from Desmond Bane and 14 and 11, respectively, from Zach Edey.
The Grizzlies’ bench was an element, too. Santi Aldama contributed 23 factors and eight rebounds and Scotty Pippen Jr. was productive throughout the board, ending with 10 assists, 9 factors, 5 rebounds and 4 steals in 23 minutes.
Pippen has had vital enjoying time with Morant lacking 21 of the crew’s 49 video games and, as a rule, has been efficient. He had a plus/minus score of plus-22 Sunday.
“Scotty simply tries to search out methods to contribute to successful,” Jenkins stated. “That is what I’ve beloved about him over the course of this season. He is performed numerous totally different roles — coming off the bench, beginning, enjoying with totally different personnel. He is progressively gotten higher as a decision-maker and as a play-maker.
“I informed him the opposite day, ‘Your defensive depth and the tempo at which you play unlocks a lot for our offense.’ We would have liked him (Sunday), and he got here by way of for us big-time.”
–Area Stage Media
