Victor Wembanyama’s scary fall puts Spurs’ playoff chances in peril

Victor Wembanyama
dominated the Portland Trail Blazers within the first recreation of their first-round collection. After the San Antonio Spurs middle suffered a concussion on a scary fall early in Recreation 2, his group should scramble to win with out the Defensive Player of the Year.

Three minutes into the second quarter, Wembanyama slipped after utilizing a spin extra to go round Jrue Vacation. The 7-foot-4 middle hit his head exhausting on the ground, then headed to the locker room the place he was dominated out for the sport — and maybe extra of the collection. The Spurs went on to lose to the Blazers, 106-103.

Accidents often is the solely factor that may sluggish Victor Wembanyama

Wembanyama scored 35 factors within the Spurs’ 111-98 Recreation 1 victory, scoring on dunks, foul photographs and 5-of-6 capturing from three-point vary. He had 5 factors, 4 rebounds and a block in his 12 minutes of motion in Recreation 2 earlier than departing.

San Antonio needed to lean on backup middle Luke Kornet, their solely main free-agent signing of the summer season. He averaged simply 6.5 factors and 6.1 rebounds, although the Spurs had spectacular superior numbers with him on the ground (offensive score of 154, defensive score 111). Kornet had 10 factors and two steals within the Recreation 2 loss. The Spurs additionally used ultra-small lineups the place 6-foot-7 Harrison Barnes was the smallest participant on the ground. Barnes had 4 factors within the loss.

However there is not any substitute for Wembanyama, a transformative defensive participant who pressured the Blazers to attempt a wide range of defensive matchups on him in Recreation 1, with restricted success. His mixture of top and handles are unprecedented, although it does imply he has additional to fall than any comparable NBA participant.