Victor Wembanyama may have to shoulder an even heavier load when the San Antonio Spurs face the New York Knicks in a must-win Game 5.
San Antonio are already under pressure, trailing 3-1 after their collapse in Game 4, where they blew a 29-point lead. Now, they may be without their key backup center at a time when every rotation decision matters.
Luke Kornet has been listed as questionable due to illness, adding to the Spurs' problems as they fight to stay alive in the series.
The NBA's official injury report on Saturday named Kornet as questionable for Game 5, citing an illness.
While Kornet is not a headline name, his presence matters. He has been the primary backup behind Wembanyama, and even short bursts off the bench are valuable, citing an illness.
While Kornet is not a headline name, his presence matters. He has been the primary backup behind Wembanyama and against a physical Knicks frontcourt led by Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson .
During the regular season, Kornet averaged 6.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks in 21 minutes per game, shooting over 64 percent from the field.
Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images
Kornet's role has shrunk in the Finals, where he is playing just 7.8 minutes per game and has not made a significant impact. The Spurs have been outscored by 19 points while he has been on the court.
That leaves the Spurs with a tricky decision. Wembanyama played 44 minutes in Game 4 and admitted to feeling the effects late. Losing any frontcourt depth is a concern, even if Kornet has not been a net positive in the series.
But his absence could also push Wembanyama into a bigger role, and despite the fatigue risk, that might not be a bad thing. Wembanyama has been a plus-11 in the series, while Kornet has struggled to keep up with the Knicks' physicality.
Wembanyama has been outstanding through four games, averaging 27.8 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.3 blocks while playing just over 40 minutes per night.
The question is whether he can maintain that level deep into the fourth quarter. The Spurs' late-game collapse in Game 4 showed how quickly things can unravel when their structure breaks down.
If Kornet is not available, the Spurs may have to turn to smaller lineups or less experienced big men. None offer the same combination of rim protection and offensive spacing that Wembanyama provides.
While Kornet's potential absence is a blow, it could also mean more minutes for the Spurs' best player. With the season on the line, that might be their best hope.
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