Victor Wembanyama says he feels fine and does not expect to miss any time after hyperextending his left knee during the San Antonio Spurs’ 134-132 win over the New York Knicks.
"It’s a good thing it was just a hyperextension,” Wembanyama said. “It should be minimal, whatever this thing is.”
Wembanyama left the rematch with the Knicks in the fourth quarter, but returned to the bench in time to see the Spurs close out the win.
Wembanyama finished with 31 points and 13 rebounds in 24 minutes as San Antonio avenged a 124-113 loss to New York in the NBA Cup final on December 16.
"I was confident,” Wembanyama said. “ I was this close to coming back into the game. They have to hold me back.”
Wembanyama leaped to gather an offensive rebound over Knicks enter Karl-Anthony Towns with 10 minutes 32 second left in the game and lost possession when he landed.
Replays showed there was no contact, but Wembanyama’s left foot slid forward and his knee appeared to hyperextend.
"I’m feeling good, just sore,” Wembanyama said. He added that he expects to play in the Spurs’ next game tomorrow (HK time).
Julian Champagnie had a career-high 36 points, including a franchise-record 11 three-pointers for the Spurs while Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 29 points.
Elsewhere, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points over three quarters as the Oklahoma City Thunder rolled past the Portland Trail Blazers 124-95 to improve to a league-best 29-5.
Stephen Curry scored 26 points in his annual homecoming game in Charlotte, and the Golden State Warriors defeated the Hornets 132-125 in front of 19,685, the largest crowd in history at the Spectrum Center..
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