The San Antonio Spurs will face off against the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night in a highly anticipated NBA Cup Semifinals matchup.
The winner will advance to the NBA Cup Finals on Tuesday, December 16, where they will face the winner of the Orlando Magic-New York Knicks semifinal in the East.
Hours ahead of Saturday’s contest, San Antonio received a significant boost, officially upgrading center Victor Wembanyama to active, returning the franchise’s transcendent two-way star after a 12-game absence caused by a left calf strain.
The 21-year-old completed on-court work this week, and the coaching staff has acknowledged that he will likely be on a minutes restriction in his return.
In 12 appearances before the injury, Wembanyama averaged 26.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 3.6 blocks per game, ranking among the NBA’s elite rim protectors and primary two-way playmakers.
Those outputs helped San Antonio open the campaign strongly; even while Wembanyama rehabbed, the Spurs went 9-3, climbing to 17-7 on the season and sitting fifth in the Western Conference standings.
While getting Wembanyama back is a significant boost, coach Mitch Johnson stressed the importance of maintaining player health and avoiding calf re-aggravations that can lead to more serious soft-tissue issues if rushed.
Read More: Timberwolves Targeting $36 Million Guard to Pair With Anthony Edwards: Report
Read More: Steve Nash Makes Michael Jordan Comparison to $285 Million NBA Superstar
Across the floor, the Thunder arrive in Las Vegas with the league’s best record (24-1) and a balanced two-way identity, led by reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is averaging 32.6 points, 6.5 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game.
With just one loss on the year and a full complement of stars, OKC enters the game as a 10.5-point favorite, with the over/under set at 232.5 points.
If Wembanyama performs effectively on limited minutes without setback, the Spurs preserve Cup hopes now and protect his availability for the tougher grind of the regular season and playoffs.
