By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After missing the previous two games of the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season, Victor Wembanyama returned and helped the San Antonio Spurs beat the New Orleans Pelicans, 121-116, in Frost Bank Center on Sunday.
After a hard fall early in the first quarter, the French prodigy went to the locker room. Early in the second quarter, he was cleared to play the rest of the game.
“I just had to spend a lot of time back there, trying to get me back in game shape, make sure everything is warm,” he described the immediate medical checks.
“Yes, there was,” he confirmed the initial consideration of sitting out the rest of the NBA Sundays affair.
Wemby lasted 25 minutes against the Pelicans, registering a 25-point, 10-rebound double-double alongside three blocks and one assist.
“I’m not worried that it sticks around,” he talked about recent back issues, “It’s one of the least major injuries I’ve had in my career, but it’s one of the most annoying.”
Besides the winning effort, the 20-year-old big celebrated Chris Paul moving up to the second place in the league’s all-time list of the players with the most assists.
“It’s the competitiveness,” he singled out the most impressive trait of his teammate, “It is incredible how he doesn’t just do things halfway, he’s never just on the court to be on the court. He’s actually trying to win, trying to find solutions.”
More European action extended to Polish Jeremy Sochan chipping in seven points, five rebounds, two blocks, two steals, and one assist in just under 23 minutes. French Sidy Cissoko and Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili stayed on the bench.
For the Pels, Croatian Karlo Matkovic (low back sprain) and German Daniel Theis (neck spasm) were on the injury list.