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Are Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle playing tonight? Spurs vs. Mavericks injury report
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- Are Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle playing tonight? Spurs vs. Mavericks injury report
Are Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle playing tonight? Spurs vs. Mavericks injury report appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The San Antonio Spurs have only lost once in their last 14 games and will now host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night. Both teams have minimal stakes on this one for vastly different reasons.
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The Mavericks (25-55) are out of playoff reckoning and have lost four of their last five games. They have had an injury-curtailed season and come into this one with a crowded injury report as well.
San Antonio , meanwhile, is the confirmed No. 2 seed in the West with a 60-19 record and needs Victor Wembanyama to play at least 20 minutes in one of their remaining two games in the regular season for awards eligibility. Wemby and Stephon Castle once again find themselves on the official injury list.
Both the players missed the Spurs' recent victory over the Portland Trail Blazers and have the same status as they did the last time around. While Wembanyama is listed as questionable due to a rib contusion, Castle is dealing with left foot soreness. David Jones Garcia , who is out for the season, is the only other injury-related absence they are dealing with.
Victor Wembanyama , Stephon Castle injury status vs. Mavericks
Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
Both Wembanyama and Castle are once again game-time decisions after being listed as questionable. The Spurs have no incentive to play the two except for Wemby's eligibility, although it is unclear which game he ends up suiting up for.
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ClutchPoints' insider Brett Siegel reported Friday that Wembanyama is "trending toward" playing in the game . Wembanyama "wants to play," according to Siegel, as he needs just two more games played to qualify for postseason awards.
From a production standpoint, Wembanyama has been one of the most dominant two-way players in the league this season, averaging 24.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game while anchoring a Spurs defense that ranks among the league's best. San Antonio has gone 9-1 in its last 10 games, posting a 124.4 offensive rating and consistently winning by double digits during that stretch.
The Spurs are a well-oiled machine even without him, and the primary focus will be to keep him healthy for the postseason. Meanwhile, Castle has averaged 16.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 7.4 assists, and just like Wemby, last played against the Philadelphia 76ers .
Regardless, Dallas has a much more crowded injury list, headlined by the absences of Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II . However, Cooper Flagg , who has averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.6 assists, is still in the Rookie of the Year race.
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The Spurs have a 2-1 advantage in the season series and can be expected to continue rotating.
Spurs injury report
Victor Wembanyama — Questionable (Left rib; contusion)
Stephon Castle — Questionable (Left foot; soreness)
Harrison Ingram — Questionable (G League; Two-Way)
David Jones-Garcia — Out (Right ankle; surgery)
Emanuel Miller — Out (G League; Two-Way)
Mavericks injury report
Kyrie Irving — Out (Left knee; surgery)
Dereck Lively II — Out (Right foot; surgery)
Daniel Gafford — Doubtful (Rest)
Naji Marshall — Doubtful (Left hip; contusion)
Caleb Martin — Doubtful (Right plantar fascia; strain)
P.J. Washington — Doubtful (Left elbow; sprain)
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Brandon Williams — Doubtful (Illness)
Cooper Flagg — Probable (Left wrist; sprain)
Moussa Cisse — Probable (G League; Two-Way)
John Poulakidas — Probable (G League; Two-Way)
Tyler Smith — Probable (G League; Two-Way)
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