Spurs rule Victor Wembanyama out vs Trail Blazers after knee hyperextension

San Antonio Spurs halfway Victor Wembanyama has been ruled retired for Saturday night’s crippled against the Portland Trail Blazers aft hyperextending his near genu successful Wednesday’s triumph implicit the New York Knicks.

An MRI performed Thursday showed nary ligament damage, league sources told ESPN. The Spurs inactive kept him successful San Antonio truthful helium could usage the attraction resources astatine the team’s Victory Capital Performance Center. He did not question for Friday’s 123-113 triumph implicit the Indiana Pacers and was officially listed arsenic retired Saturday afternoon.

MRI brings relief, Spurs enactment cautious

Wembanyama was wounded with 10:32 remaining against New York portion battling for a rebound nether the basket. After landing awkwardly, helium instantly grabbed astatine his near knee. Teammate Stephon Castle helped him backmost up, and Wembanyama hobbled to the locker country nether his ain power. As helium headed off, helium yelled to fans astatine Frost Bank Center, "I'll beryllium each right." He aboriginal returned to the seat with 1:22 left, wearing warmups, and finished with 31 points and 13 rebounds successful 24 minutes.

Awards threshold starts to matter

Saturday volition beryllium the 14th crippled Wembanyama has missed this season. Under NBA rules, a subordinate mostly needs to look successful astatine slightest 65 of 82 regular-season games to beryllium eligible for astir postseason awards, which means Wembanyama tin miss lone 3 much games earlier that becomes a concern.

He already missed 12 games earlier this play with a near calf strain. The third-year halfway returned Dec. 13 for the NBA Cup semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder and came disconnected the seat successful his archetypal six games backmost earlier rejoining the starting lineup Dec. 27 successful a 127-114 nonaccomplishment to the Utah Jazz.

After Saturday, San Antonio does not play again until Tuesday astatine Memphis. Wembanyama inactive leads the Spurs successful scoring (24.3 PPG), rebounding (11.7 RPG), and blocks (2.9 BPG).