The NBA Playoffs are looming and the San Antonio Spurs sit securely in the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed. Ahead of tonight’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers, it seems the team may be prioritizing the health of two of its key stars.
Big man Victor Wembanyama (rib) and guard Stephon Castle (ankle) have both been ruled out for Wednesday night’s contest per the official NBA injury report.
The pair of stars were initially listed as doubtful for tonight’s game but have been downgraded. Each suffered their injuries during Monday’s matchup, with both returning to the floor. However, while Castle played the remainder of the contest, Wembanyama sat out the entire second half.
Wembanyama averages a team-high 24.8 points and 11.5 rebounds, also pacing the NBA with 3.1 blocks per game. He must play at least one more game with 20+ minutes to be eligible for end-of-season awards.
Meanwhile, Castle has appeared in 67 games this season as the reigning Rookie of the Year bumped his statistical averages up to 16.8 points, 7.4 assists and 5.2 boards a night. He also brings 1.1 steals a contest as well.
The Spurs are 60-19 overall, marking their first 60-win campaign since the 2016-17 season. While three games back of the Oklahoma City Thunder for first in the Western Conference, they’re safely locked into a top-two seed for the postseason with the Denver Nuggets nine games back of second.
For tonight’s matchup against the Trail Blazers, San Antonio is listed as a 3.5-point home favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
