The San Antonio Spurs are hoping to have their star player, Victor Wembanyama, back in action as they look to end a two-game losing streak when they host the Sacramento Kings on Friday.
This game will be the second part of a back-to-back for both teams.
The Spurs lost 139-124 at home to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday without Wembanyama, who was out with a sore back. Sacramento also lost, 115-110, to the Memphis Grizzlies on the road, marking their third loss in the last four games.
San Antonio struggled in the first half, allowing 73 points and trailing by 16 at halftime. They made a late comeback, cutting the lead to eight points with 3:18 remaining, but then gave up nine straight points, running out of time and energy.
Keldon Johnson led the Spurs with 28 points off the bench, and Jeremy Sochan contributed 16 points and 14 rebounds. The Spurs, who never led, lost their third game in the last four.
“Lethargic would be the word — just a lack of energy in the early going,” said acting coach Mitch Johnson. “Once we got going, we made a game of it. But giving up 73 points in the first half and 68 points in the paint are difficult to come back from. We have to do a better job.”
Wembanyama is expected to be listed as questionable for the Friday game but should return for the Spurs’ home game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday.
Sacramento led for much of their game against Memphis, even going up by 12 points in the second quarter. However, Memphis pulled ahead in the end after a 6-0 run. Despite another strong effort by Malik Monk, who scored 23 points, the Kings couldn’t hold on.
Monk moved into the starting lineup this week, and Sacramento is still trying to find the right rotation. On Thursday, their bench was outscored 60-15 by the Grizzlies’ reserves.
“With Malik, I just looked him in the eye and told him what I think and listened to him about how he feels about the switch to the starting lineup because I need to listen to him,” said Sacramento coach Mike Brown. “I need to hear him out, and then I need to make the best decision, not for him, but for the team, while keeping him in mind.”
The Spurs have won both games in their season series so far, including a two-point victory in Sacramento on Sunday, where Wembanyama recorded his first triple-double of the season with 34 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists.
