Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama (concussion) out Game 3 vs. Blazers

PORTLAND, Ore. –The San Antonio Spurs stated Victor Wembanyama shouldn’t be out there for Friday evening’s Game 3 towards the Portland Trail Blazers within the groups’ first-round playoff sequence whereas he continues to recover from a concussion.

Wembanyama — the league’s first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year and certainly one of three finalists for the Most Valuable Player award — went down within the second quarter of Game 2 on Tuesday evening and didn’t return.

Portland received the sport 106-103 in San Antonio. The sequence is tied heading into the third recreation.

“Victor is not playing tonight. Obviously, there’s a lot that goes into that, but he’s doing well and progressing,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson stated.

(*3*) on Thursday afternoon whereas persevering with to finish the steps mandated by the league’s concussion protocol. Previously, he was listed as questionable for Friday’s recreation.

Johnson stated he was going to maintain particulars of Wembanyama’s situation “in-house,” besides to say he is persevering with to progress.

Wembanyama was placing up photographs on the workforce’s shootaround Friday morning on the Moda Center.

Johnson stated Luke Kornet will get the beginning towards the Trail Blazers in Wembanyama’s absence. Kornet has performed in 68 video games this season, with 25 begins, averaging 6.5 factors and 6.1 rebounds.

Players should move a sequence of benchmarks earlier than being cleared for play underneath the concussion protocol. The outcomes are in comparison with baseline neurological evaluations gamers take in the beginning of the season.

Any prolonged absence by Wembanyama may very well be an enormous blow to San Antonio, which completed with the league’s second-best document behind the versatile 7-foot-4 middle from France. The Spurs had been 12-6 within the common season with out Wembanyama.

Wembanyama averaged 25 factors, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and a league-best 3.1 blocks this season. He was additionally together with his teammates Wednesday night, after they all donned cowboy hats and shocked teammate Keldon Johnson after he was announced as the league’s Sixth Man of the Year.