Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama out. PHOENIX – As they return from the All-Star break, the Phoenix Suns have a relatively healthy roster heading into tomorrow’s game against the San Antonio Spurs at the University of Texas in Austin.
The Spurs (23-29) have listed their young All-Star standout, Victor Wembanyama, as doubtful due to illness.
Meanwhile, the Suns (26-28) will welcome back Devin Booker (back), Bradley Beal (toe), and Grayson Allen (knee), all of whom missed last Wednesday’s loss to the Houston Rockets. Cody Martin (sports hernia) remains sidelined.
Booker sustained a back injury in the first quarter of last Tuesday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies but played through it, finishing with 17 points and nine assists in 40 minutes.
Allen had missed two of the previous three games before the break due to soreness in his left knee.
Beal sat out Phoenix’s last four games with a left great toe sprain. Head coach Mike Budenholzer expressed optimism before the Memphis game that the All-Star break would benefit Beal’s recovery, saying, “I think the break is going to be good for us and good for Brad as far as his health and his toe. I don’t want to say for certain, but I think there is a lot of hope that coming out of the break, he’s going to be in a good place.”
Martin has yet to play since joining the Suns on Feb. 6.
Tomorrow’s game holds special significance for Suns star Kevin Durant, who played at Texas during the 2006-07 season. That year, he averaged 25.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 1.9 blocks, earning AP Player of the Year honors.
Tip-off is set for just after 7:30 p.m. Arizona time.
Wembanyama’s Status Uncertain for Suns-Spurs
The Phoenix Suns kick off the second half of their season on Thursday as they return from the NBA All-Star break.
They will take on the San Antonio Spurs at the Moody Center on the University of Texas campus in Austin, rather than the Spurs’ usual home at Frost Bank Arena in San Antonio. This marks the third straight season San Antonio has hosted a pair of home games in Austin as part of a back-to-back.
For Suns forward Kevin Durant, this game serves as a homecoming. Durant played one standout season at Texas before being selected second overall in the 2007 NBA Draft.
While the matchup was expected to feature plenty of star power, the Spurs may be without their rising superstar, Victor Wembanyama. The team listed him as doubtful on Wednesday due to illness.
This is the second time this season Wembanyama has dealt with an illness. He previously missed a game on Feb. 1 after the Spurs’ trip to Paris in late January. However, he played in San Antonio’s six games leading up to the All-Star break and participated in both the Skills Challenge and the All-Star Game over the weekend.
Losing Wembanyama would be a tough blow for the Spurs as they prepare to face Phoenix.
Aside from Wembanyama’s uncertain status, both teams enter Thursday’s contest mostly healthy. The Spurs will be without Charles Bassey (left MCL sprain), while the Suns remain without Cody Martin.
