The Spurs are gearing up to face the Nuggets tonight, but they'll have to do it without their standout rookie, Victor Wembanyama. The French sensation was a last-minute scratch due to right ankle soreness, marking his 15th missed game this season. With the NBA's postseason award rules allowing for 18 missed games, Wembanyama has little room left for any more absences if he wants to stay in the awards conversation.
Spurs assistant coach Mitch Johnson mentioned pre-game that Wembanyama playing was a toss-up, but ultimately, the decision was made to sit him out. Wembanyama's absence is a significant blow, given his impressive averages of 24.2 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game, shooting 50.6% from the field and 36.0% from deep. His presence has been a key factor in the Spurs' recent success, as they aim to stretch their winning streak to six games.
The Spurs, otherwise fully healthy, will be facing a Nuggets squad that's also missing some firepower. Aaron Gordon will be sidelined due to a right hamstring issue, joining Peyton Watson on the bench. Gordon has been a crucial part of Denver's lineup, putting up 16.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, with shooting splits of 49.2% from the field and 38.6% from three.
This marks the second encounter between these teams this season. The Spurs edged out a thrilling 139-136 victory in their first meeting back in November. With two more matchups scheduled in April, tonight's game could set the tone for their remaining encounters.
The Nuggets, fresh off a dominant win against the Rockets, hold a 40-26 record. A victory tonight could propel them to third in the Western Conference standings, especially if the Lakers falter against the Bulls.
On the other side, the Spurs boast a 48-17 record, sitting 2.5 games behind the Thunder. Despite missing Wembanyama, they've shown resilience, going 10-4 in the 14 games without him.
Facing Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets is no small task, but the Spurs have proven they can compete at a high level even without their star rookie. It promises to be an exciting clash as the Spurs aim to keep their hot streak alive.