Victor Wembanyama missed his first game of the season Sunday with calf soreness, a condition the Spurs had downplayed (he wore a sleeve on his calf after the game, but no walking shoe), and the team came out and got a win against Sacramento without him. San Antonio will need more in the coming weeks.
An MRI determined Wembanyama had a left calf strain and the team declared him out. Multiple reports indicate he should be re-evaluated in 2-3 weeks.
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Wembanyama has been a force this season on both ends of the court, playing at a level that has him mentioned in the early MVP conversation. Wembanyama is averaging 26.2 points per game while shooting 34.5 percent from beyond the arc (but he has cut down on his 3 attempts and is getting closer to the basket), in addition to grabbing 12.9 rebounds and dishing out four assists per night. His 3.6 blocked shots per night leads the league.
When Wembanyama is off the court, the Spurs defense is 10.8 points worse per 100 possessions. Yet, thanks to strong guard play, the Spurs still outperform teams by 1.5 percent without him.
Expect the returning De’Aaron Fox to have a big few weeks carrying San Antonio’s offense, he had 28 points and 11 assists on Sunday. Luke Kornet will fill the starting center spot (he had a solid game against the Kings on Sunday with 13 points and 11 rebounds), and veteran big Kelly Olynyk should also see more comings off the bench.
Wembanyama joins No. 2 pick Dylan Harper in street clothes for the Spurs due to a calf strain. Following what happened to Tyrese Haliburton in the Finals last season – when he attempted to play with a sore calf and tore his Achilles tendon – and similar injuries, teams are being much more cautious this season with calf strains.
