SAN ANTONIO — Spurs star center Victor Vembanyama limped off the court in the fourth quarter of Wednesday night's 134-132 win. New York Knicks after his left knee buckled while trying to secure a rebound under the basket.
Vembanyama later said that he had hyperextension and that initial tests showed no other problems. He said he would conduct further tests on Thursday.
“I was confident. I was close to getting back into the game,” Vembanyama said. “[They] I had to restrain myself. It was just hyperextension, so it should be minimal. Tomorrow we still have to do everything to make sure everything is in order.”
Vembanyama added: “I expect to be back in the next game.”
Wembanyama was injured with 10:32 left in the game, with the Spurs down 106-92, when he struggled under the basket with Karl-Anthony Towns And Jordan Clarkson for rebound. After the game, Vembanyama immediately grabbed his left knee. Teammate Stephon Castle helped Wembanyama to his feet and the Frenchman hobbled under his own power to the dressing room.
Wembanyama appeared to tell Castle “I'm fine” as a security guard helped him to his feet and appeared to convey the same message to the sold-out crowd of 18,062 as he struggled to his feet from the floor and headed to the dressing room.
Vembanyama returned to the bench with 1:22 remaining in the team warm-up, but did not return to the game.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said Wembanyama finishing the game on the bench gave him hope the injury was not serious.
“I haven’t had a chance to talk to the medical staff yet, but I think I saw what everyone else saw,” Johnson said. “Obviously he finished the game on the bench with his teammates. So I guess that made me feel good.”
Vembanyama scored 31 points with 13 rebounds in 24 minutes on the floor.
Third-year veteran Wembanyama previously missed 12 games earlier in the season with a left calf sprain. He returned to the lineup on December 13 during the NBA Cup semifinals against Oklahoma City and came off the bench in his first six games back from injury before making his first start on December 27 in the team's loss. Utah Jazz.
Vembanyama entered Wednesday's contest averaging 24.0 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks.
