-
Michael C. Wright, ESPN writer
SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs gave Victor Wembanyama the day off from practice on Monday before officially listing him as out for Tuesday’s NBA Cup game against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a knee contusion. right.
The club initially said after Monday’s practice that it would list Wembanyama as questionable, before putting him in doubt later that day on the official injury report.
The Spurs provided an updated injury report on Tuesday that listed the 20-year-old as out.
Wembanyama missed Saturday’s loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
“A little banged up right now,” he said the night he suffered the injury. “I took a big hit. It’s just a hit. I didn’t twist anything. This is no big deal.”
San Antonio guard Devin Vassell will also be out of the NBA Cup game with left knee soreness. He missed the first nine games of the season following offseason surgery to repair a stress fracture in the third metatarsal of his right foot. After playing four straight games, Vassell missed Saturday’s game with knee soreness unrelated to his foot surgery.
“The foot is fine,” Spurs acting coach Mitch Johnson said. “It’s just a flare-up on his knee. Being conservative like we’ve been all month.”
Wembanyama’s injury occurred with 6:41 left in Friday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers while defending Anthony Davis on a drive to the basket. The players hit their right knees during the collision, which knocked Wembanyama down.
Wembanyama was fouled on the play and was immediately substituted before walking to the locker room. Davis stayed in the game and hit one of two free throws. Wembanyama appeared to limp away from his postgame media availability that night.
Wembanyama, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA draft, has made 24 3-pointers, which ranks as the most in a four-game span in Spurs history. Wembanyama is currently averaging 22.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.7 blocks and 1.3 steals.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
