Victor Wembanyama
dominated the Portland Trail Blazers in the first game of their first-round series. After the San Antonio Spurs center suffered a concussion on a scary fall early in Game 2, his team will have to scramble to win without the Defensive Player of the Year.
Three minutes into the second quarter, Wembanyama slipped after using a spin more to go around Jrue Holiday. The 7-foot-4 center hit his head hard on the floor, then headed to the locker room where he was ruled out for the game — and perhaps more of the series. The Spurs went on to lose to the Blazers, 106-103.
Injuries may be the only thing that can slow Victor Wembanyama
Wembanyama scored 35 points in the Spurs’ 111-98 Game 1 victory, scoring on dunks, foul shots and 5-of-6 shooting from three-point range. He had five points, four rebounds and a block in his 12 minutes of action in Game 2 before departing.
San Antonio had to lean on backup center Luke Kornet, their only major free-agent signing of the summer. He averaged just 6.5 points and 6.1 rebounds, though the Spurs had spectacular advanced numbers with him on the floor (offensive rating of 154, defensive rating 111). Kornet had 10 points and two steals in the Game 2 loss. The Spurs also used ultra-small lineups where 6-foot-7 Harrison Barnes was the smallest player on the floor. Barnes had four points in the loss.
But there’s no substitute for Wembanyama, a transformative defensive player who forced the Blazers to try a variety of defensive matchups on him in Game 1, with limited success. His combination of height and handles are unprecedented, though it does mean he has further to fall than any comparable NBA player.