Victor Wembanyama rising ahead of latest NBA clash between San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder

OKLAHOMA CITY – Victor Wembanyama is back in the San Antonio Spurs’ starting line-up in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

They take on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road on Jan 13 (Jan 14 morning, Singapore time) in a matchup of the top two teams – and two of the best players – in the Western Conference.

Wembanyama returned to the starting line-up in the 104-103 loss at the Minnesota Timberwolves on Jan 11, starting for the first time since Dec 31. He scored 29 points in 27 minutes.

The 2023-24 Rookie of the Year came off the bench when he returned from a calf strain in December. He made three starts at the end of the month, then missed two games in January with a knee injury.

“It’s a constant conversation,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said of the decision on whether Wembanyama starts or not.

“He wants to start, he wants to finish, he wants to play 48 (minutes) and we’ve somehow got to figure out how to keep him happy and still play organically and help the team and do what’s right.”

Wembanyama and the Spurs have handed the Thunder three of Oklahoma City’s seven losses this season – all coming within a 13-day span in December. Since then, San Antonio have gone 4-5.

Part of the Spurs’ recent troubles have been due to the offensive woes of young guards Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper.

During that nine-game stretch, Castle and Harper have combined to shoot just 33.2 per cent from the field and 17.5 per cent from behind the three-point line.

“Part of it is they’re missing some good shots, part of it is they’ve just got to learn the balance of what this game calls upon when you have the basketball in your hands a lot,” Johnson added.

“Whether that’s being aggressive, whether that’s understanding time and score, whether that’s on-time, on-target passes to your teammates, whether that’s getting the ball out of your hands early.

“There’s some stuff they’ve just got to go through. That’s part of the deal when you’re 21 and 19.”

While Oklahoma City have gone 7-2 since the Christmas Day loss to the Spurs, the Thunder have recently struggled from distance, shooting just 25 per cent from beyond the arc over their last four games.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said the issue is a test for his team. He said he has been happy with Oklahoma City’s shot selection, even more so recently than he was earlier in the season when shots were falling at higher percentages.

“You’re going to go through stretches of games and of the season where you’re getting good shots that aren’t falling, we try to see it as a mental battle and a challenge that we have to overcome,” he said.

“It’s a test of your trust in each other and your conviction in what you’re doing.”

The Thunder come into the Jan 13 contest on a three-game winning streak, after

beating the Miami Heat 124-112 at home

on Jan 11.

Meanwhile in NBA action on Jan 12, Pascal Siakam scored a go-ahead basket with 6.1 seconds left to propel the Indiana Pacers to a 98-96 victory over the Boston Celtics in Indianapolis.

Siakam produced 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists while Jay Huff scored 20 points and Andrew Nembhard chipped in 13 points for the Pacers, who won three straight games for the first time this season. 

Elsewhere, DeMar DeRozan registered 32 points and six assists to lead the Sacramento Kings to a solid 124-112 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Lakers.

Kawhi Leonard scored 19 of his 35 points in the third quarter and James Harden added 32 points and 10 assists as the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Charlotte Hornets 117-109 in Inglewood, California.

Cooper Flagg scored 27 points and the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Brooklyn Nets 113-105 at home. REUTERS