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 matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a right knee contusion.
The club initially said after practice Monday that it would list Wembanyama as questionable, before making him doubtful later that day on the official injury report.
The Spurs provided an updated injury report Tuesday that listed the 20-year old as out.
Wembanyama missed Saturday’s loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
“A little beat-up right now,” he said on the night he sustained the injury. “I took a big hit. It’s just a hit. I didn’t twist nothing. This is not a big deal.”
San Antonio guard Devin Vassell is also out for the NBA Cup game with a sore left knee. 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, Vassell sat out Saturday’s game with a sore knee not related to his foot surgery.
“Foot is fine,” Spurs acting coach Mitch Johnson said. “It’s just a flare-up in his knee. Being conservative as we’ve been all month.”
Wembanyama’s injury came with 6:41 left in a loss Friday to the Los Angeles Lakers while guarding Anthony Davis on a drive to the basket. The players hit right knees during the collision, which knocked Wembanyama to the floor.
Wembanyama was whistled for a foul on the play and immediately subbed out before walking to the locker room. Davis stayed in the game and connected one of two free throws. Wembanyama appeared hobbled walking away from his postgame media availability that night.
The No. 1 pick of the 2023 NBA draft, Wembanyama has connected on 24 3-pointers, which ranks as the most over a four-game span in Spurs history. Wembanyama currently averages 22.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.7 blocks and 1.3 steals.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
