San Antonio Spurs is likely to have second -year star Victor Wembanyama back in the lineup when they visit the growing Memphis Grizzlies on Monday evening.
Whether the newly acquired de’aaron Fox is on the trip is less likely.
Several reports late Sunday had eight-year-old veteran points from Sacramento to San Antonio as part of a three-team trading involved Chicago Bulls who sent Zach Lavine to Kings.
Fox is on average 25 points, 6.1 assists and 5 returns a game and should make 7-foot-3 Wembanyama an even stronger offensive weapon.
Wembanyama missed Saturday’s last seconds of loss to Miami Heat, a late scratch due to a disease that is not considered serious.
“Obviously (Wembanyama) did not know 100 percent (against Miami),” said Spur interim coach Mitch Johnson. “I expect it would be smaller. It doesn’t sound like it was something drastic or extreme.”
Fox will be a welcome addition. The spurs has lost six of its last eight matches but published an overwhelming victory over Milwaukee Bucks on Friday. In the victory 144-118, Wenbanyama had 30 points, 14 returns and six blocks.
Wenbanyama told the media after Saturday’s loss 105-103 to Miami that he suffered from allergies. He was scratched from Lineupen 40 minutes before Tipoff.
As All-Star Break approaches, Wenbanyama leads with an average of 4 blocks per match and has at least one block in 77 consecutive games. He is on average 24.6 points, 10.9 returns and 3.7 assists and will be a Western Conference Reserve in the All-Star game.
Memphis is meanwhile on a mid -season roll. Grizzlies has won two straight matches without a star guard yes Morant (right shoulder injury) and eight of their last nine in total. They are also 20-5 at home this season.
Grizzlies gathered to beat Bucks 132-119 on Sunday behind a strong fourth quarter, a decided rebounding Kant (61-36) and 37 points from Jaren Jackson Jr. Memphis exceeded Bucks 39-20 during the last period.
“Our pace, we were just trying to tear them during the fourth quarter,” said Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins. “We had great contributions from everyone.”
While Jackson led grizzlies in points and joined seven 3-points, Memphis received 22 points and nine returns from Desmond Bane and 14 and 11 respectively from Zach Edey.
Grizzlies’ bench was also a factor. Santi Aldama contributed 23 points and eight returns and Scotty Pippen Jr. Be productive all over the line and ended with 10 assists, nine points, five returns and four steals in 23 minutes.
Pippen has had significant playing time with Morant which is missing 21 of the team’s 49 matches and has often not been effective. He had a plus/minus rating of plus-22 Sunday.
“Scotty is just trying to find ways to help win,” Jenkins said. “That’s what I’ve loved with him this season. He has played many different roles -that comes from the bench, started, playing with different staff. Manufacturers.
“I told him the other day,” your defensive intensity and pace that you play unlocks so much for our crime. “We needed him (Sunday), and he came through for us great time.”
-Field level media
