Victor Wembanyama, surging San Antonio Spurs face depleted Memphis Grizzlies in NBA clash

MEMPHIS – The San Antonio Spurs are building momentum as the National Basketball Association (NBA) season reaches the business end, a push that is putting pressure on the Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City Thunder.

San Antonio defeated the hosts Miami Heat 136-111 on March 23 for their sixth consecutive victory.

The Spurs (54-18) might be able to sneak a step closer to the Thunder on March 25 (March 26 morning, Singapore time) as they visit the slumping, injury-riddled Memphis Grizzlies (24-47), while Oklahoma City (57-15) travel to face the Boston Celtics (47-24).

The Spurs are an NBA-best 22-2 since Feb 1 and clinched their first play-off berth since 2019 on March 19. They are in second place in the Western Conference and three games back of the defending champions Thunder, who have maintained a grip on first place behind a 12-game win streak.

Victor Wembanyama has re-established San Antonio and lifted them back into title contention.

The 22-year-old French centre has had 11 games this season with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds. The third-year pro averages 24.3 points, 11.2 rebounds and a league-best 3.0 blocks per game.

“He is something that we haven’t seen,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said.

“He affects as much of the game, in every single way, on the court on both ends with or without the ball and what the other team tries to do on both sides... in my very ignorant opinion, as much as any player I’ve ever seen. He is someone who touches every bit of our programme.”

Memphis fell 146-107 to the Atlanta Hawks on March 23 for their third straight loss and 11th in 12 games.

Without rotation players Cam Spencer, Javon Small (both low back soreness) and rookie Cedric Coward (personal reasons), the Grizzlies were not competitive in the defeat.

And with star guard Ja Morant likely out the rest of the season with an elbow injury he sustained in late January – he has appeared in only 20 games this season – and with surgeries ending the seasons for Zach Edey, Scotty Pippen Jr (toe) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (finger), the Grizzlies’ final 11 games will be challenging.

In other news, the National Basketball Players Association has criticised the Milwaukee Bucks for wanting to bench superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo despite him being “healthy and ready to play”, implying the team are “tanking”.

The union’s statement was in response to reports last week that Antetokounmpo refused the Bucks’ request to play. He is sidelined by what the team said is a left knee injury with a bone bruise with no timeline for his return, but the 31-year-old wants to play before the season ends, per reports.

“The Player Participation Policy was designed by the league to hold teams accountable and ensure that when an All-Star like Giannis Antetokounmpo is healthy and ready to play, he is on the court,” the union said.

“Unfortunately, anti-tanking policies are only as effective as their enforcement; fans, broadcast partners and the integrity of the game itself will continue to suffer as long as ownership goes unchecked. We look forward to collaborating with the NBA on meaningful new proposals that will directly address and discourage tanking.”

Antetokounmpo, a two-time Most Valuable Player, has endured an injury-plagued season that has caused him to miss a career-high 35 games. The team, which had rebuffed trade offers for their superstar, has argued that it is best for Antetokounmpo’s future as well as for the organisation that he cut short the season, per reports.

In NBA action on March 24, Nikola Jokic scored 23 points for his second consecutive triple-double, and his jumper with 11.5 seconds remaining broke a tie and pushed the visiting Denver Nuggets to a 125-123 victory over the Phoenix Suns.

Jokic added 17 rebounds and tied a season-high 17 assists for his 29th triple-double of the season. 

Elsewhere, Donovan Mitchell scored 16 of his 42 points in the third quarter and James Harden had 26 points and seven assists, lifting the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 136-131 victory over the visiting Orlando Magic.

Jalen Brunson scored 32 points in New York as the Knicks stretched their winning streak to seven games with a 121-116 defeat of the New Orleans Pelicans.
REUTERS, AFP