Wembanyama’s Spurs Loss: Another Defeat Despite Star Performance

Heavily beaten by the Heat in Miami (147-123), the Denver Nuggets also lost their playing master Nikola Jokic, injured in the knee on Monday in the NBA, where Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs lost again.

Nuggets shake with Jokic injury

The three-time MVP fell to the ground in the final seconds of the second quarter after being stepped on by a teammate. On this contact, his left knee visibly twisted inward. The 30-year-old Serb did not return to the court after leaving with a heavy limp.

Skip the ad

Nuggets coach David Adelman said the severity of his star’s injury was not yet established, with Jokic scheduled to undergo an MRI on Tuesday. “All I know is that Jokic has an injury to his left knee and he has to go through the procedure. I watched it at halftime and it looked like he got his feet tangled. He knew right away something was wrong.”said the coach. “It’s part of the NBA. No matter who gets hurt, it’s heartbreaking. Especially someone as special as him. We will know more tomorrow and move forward as a team” added the coach.

Jokic played a big part before his exit with 21 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds when the score was still 63 everywhere. Without him, the Nuggets collapsed against Miami, losing 84-60 after the break. Already deprived of key players Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun, also injured, Denver now loses its playing master.

Spurs fall again despite a great Wemby

This new injury to a star player, after the long-term absences of Wembanyama for the Spurs and Giannis Antetokounmpo for Milwaukee, highlights the debate on the infernal pace of the NBA.

Several players and coaches have suggested that the interminable regular season, 82 games long, plays a role in the injuries. A hypothesis refuted by NBA president Adam Silver, according to whom no statistics prove a link between the two.

In Monday’s other matches, Oklahoma City consolidated its position as leader of the Western Conference by winning 140 to 129 against the Atlanta Hawks. Manhandled in the second quarter with a ten-point deficit, the reigning champions got back on track thanks to an excellent game from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, last season’s MVP, with 39 points scored. Chet Holmgren (24 points) and Jalen Williams (20 points) also shined for the Thunder.

Skip the ad

Wemby unleashed

Beaten at home by Cleveland 113-101, the San Antonio Spurs, second in the Western Conference, suffered a second consecutive loss after having achieved a series of eight successes. The double double of Victor Wembanyama (26 points, 14 rebounds), who made a second start since his return from injury in mid-December, was not enough for San Antonio.

The Spurs cracked in the last quarter, with 37 points conceded, allowing the Cavaliers led in particular by Jarrett Allen (27 points, 10 rebounds) to bounce back after two defeats in a row.

Beaten on Sunday after overtime in Toronto, the Warriors recovered against the Nets (120-107), ending their series of three victories, thanks in particular to 27 points from veteran Stephen Curry.