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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

The Spurs haven’t been able to make an impression this season, with a 5-29 record, and sitting in fifth position in the Southwest Division. It has been one losing streak after the other as they currently grapple with another four back-to-back losses. Tonight they stop at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland for their first showdown against the Cavaliers this season.

With time running out, now is the critical moment for the Spurs to make an impact. Their top draft pick, Victor Wembanyama, has suffered several injuries during this slump, making a comeback exceedingly challenging. There has been uncertainty around his appearance tonight, but the way things are now, it looks like there is a light at the end of this tunnel.

Wemby will play tonight

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Victor Wembanyama is expected to gear up tonight vs the Cavs but it shouldn’t be a surprise if his minutes are restricted. Coach Gregg Popovich has been putting Wemby on a minute restriction as a precautionary measure for their star player’s health. Wemby played the Spurs’ last game against the Bucks but clocked in only 26 minutes, the most he has played since his ankle injury in late December.

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Wemby finished with 27 points, nine rebounds, five blocks, and one assist on Thursday in the 121-125 loss against the Bucks. He has played 30 games so far, missing four and despite his recent health scares, still leads the Spurs in points (19.2), rebounds (10.1), and blocks (3.2). The 7’4″ Frenchman had a healthy start to this rookie season, until December 1, when he missed his first game due to a right hip tightness. This marked the beginning of a series of injuries that would eventually slow him down.

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A series of unfortunate events

On December 19, Wemby missed his second game, having to deal with a right ankle soreness. On the 23rd, things turned for the worst when he further aggravated his right ankle during warmups, prior to the Spurs’ game vs the Mavs. The 20-year-old had accidentally trod on a Mavs ball boy’s foot during the warmup drills. He ended up missing the game.

On December 29, he missed the Spurs’ back-to-back game against the Blazers. Coach Popovich’s decision to limit Wemby’s playing time and exercise caution in regard to his health is going to be a win-win situation for both Wemby and the team. It is critical that the rookie recovers quickly and avoids over-exerting his body because this is a critical moment for the Spurs to put all hands on deck.

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Is Wemby still a contender for Rookie of the Year, given the way things are going for him right now? Share your thoughts!