The San Antonio Spurs are likely to have second-year star Victor Wembanyama back in the lineup when they face the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.
However, it seems less likely that newly acquired De’Aaron Fox will join the trip. Multiple reports late Sunday indicated that Fox, the veteran point guard from Sacramento, is part of a three-team trade that will send Zach LaVine from the Chicago Bulls to the Kings.
Fox is averaging 25 points, 6.1 assists, and 5 rebounds per game and could make Wembanyama an even stronger offensive force for the Spurs.
Wembanyama missed Saturday’s last-second loss to the Miami Heat due to an illness, which is not considered serious. “Obviously, (Wembanyama) wasn’t feeling 100 percent (against Miami),” said Spurs interim coach Mitch Johnson. “I expect it to be minor. It didn’t sound like it was anything drastic or extreme.”
Fox’s arrival would be a boost for the Spurs, who have lost six of their last eight games, though they did secure a dominant win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday. In that 144-118 victory, Wembanyama scored 30 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and blocked six shots.
After Saturday’s 105-103 loss to Miami, Wembanyama mentioned he was dealing with allergies and was scratched from the lineup 40 minutes before the game started.
As the All-Star break approaches, Wembanyama leads the NBA with an average of 4 blocks per game, having recorded at least one block in 77 straight games. He’s averaging 24.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists and is set to be a Western Conference reserve in the All-Star Game.
The Grizzlies, on the other hand, are on a hot streak. They’ve won two straight games without star guard Ja Morant, who is out with a right shoulder injury, and eight of their last nine games. Memphis is also 20-5 at home this season.
The Grizzlies beat the Bucks 132-119 on Sunday, rallying in the fourth quarter with a big rebounding advantage (61-36) and 37 points from Jaren Jackson Jr. Memphis outscored Milwaukee 39-20 in the final period.
“Our pace, we just tried to wear them down in the fourth quarter,” said Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins. “We had great contributions from everyone.”
Jackson led Memphis in scoring, hitting seven 3-pointers. Desmond Bane added 22 points and nine rebounds, while Zach Edey contributed 14 points and 11 rebounds.
The Grizzlies’ bench also played a key role. Santi Aldama scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Scotty Pippen Jr. had 10 assists, nine points, five rebounds, and four steals in 23 minutes of play.
Pippen has seen significant playing time with Morant missing 21 games this season and has been effective in his role. He had a plus/minus rating of +22 in Sunday’s win.
“Scotty just tries to find ways to contribute to winning,” Jenkins said. “That’s what I’ve loved about him over the course of this season. He’s played a lot of different roles — coming off the bench, starting, playing with different personnel. He’s progressively gotten better as a decision-maker and as a playmaker.
“I told him the other day, ‘Your defensive intensity and the pace at which you play unlocks so much for our offense.’ We needed him (Sunday), and he came through for us big-time.”
