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By Justin Grasso
Contributing Sports Writer
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Victor Wembanyama returned to the court for the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night.
Facing the dominant Oklahoma City Thunder, Wembanyama had his hands full in his first game back. The San Antonio superstar stepped up and delivered.
For the first time in his career, Wembanyama was slated to come off the bench. Being on a minutes restriction, the Spurs wanted to make sure they kept the team’s momentum, while also avoiding a situation where Wembanyama becomes overworked after missing so much time.
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After suffering a calf strain in mid-November, Wembanyama missed 12 games in a row. He was out for nearly a month.
In Saturday’s game against the Thunder, Wembanyama clocked in for 21 minutes. He didn’t waste any time during his limited action.
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From the field, Wembanyama shot 6-11. He knocked down nine of his 12 free throws. The veteran big man produced 22 points.
Along with his scoring, Wembanyama came down with nine rebounds, while producing two assists, snatching up one steal, and blocking two shots.
After the game, the star center reacted to coming off the bench in a confident manner.
"Can you be Sixth Man and MVP?" Wembanyama asked a room full of reporters. He then followed by showing his appreciation for playing on a thriving Spurs team.
“I’m just glad to be a part of something that’s great and to be so beautiful," Wembanyama told reporters. "Pure and ethical basketball.”
The Thunder were favored heading into the NBA Cup Semi-Final. Being the top team in the Western Conference with a 24-1 record, many wondered when the Thunder would be defeated again. Prior to Saturday’s action, they hadn’t lost a game since early November.
Although the NBA Cup tournament run and the NBA Playoffs are two different beasts, the NBA Cup Championship will be the most notable game of Wembanyama’s career so far.
Being in year three, the star center hasn’t had the chance to participate in any playoff action just yet. When he landed on the Spurs as the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, San Antonio was in the midst of its rebuild. Last year, the Spurs showed improvement and promise, but Wembanyama managed to play in just 46 games.
Before going down with an injury this year, Wembanyama produced 26.2 points, while shooting 50 percent from the field and 34 percent from three. He posted averages of 12.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.1 steals, and 3.6 blocks.
On Tuesday, the Spurs and the New York Knicks will battle for the NBA Cup Final. As long as Wembanyama feels good after his return, he should be set to suit up for the big game.
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