Spurs rule out Victor Wembanyama (ankle) against Clippers

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama did not play in Thursday’s game against the LA Clippers due to managing a right ankle injury.

LOS ANGELES — The star of the San Antonio Spurs, Victor Wembanyamawill not play Thursday night’s game against the LA Clippers due to the management of a right ankle injury.

The matchup against the Clippers comes on the second night of a back-to-back for San Antonio, a team that beat the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco on Wednesday. The French player accumulated 41 points and 18 rebounds in 29 minutes during that game.

Earlier on Thursday, Wembanyama was named Western Conference Defensive Player of the Month corresponding to March, this being the third consecutive month in which he wins said award. In 15 games played in March, Wembanyama recorded 180 rebounds, 56 blocks (the highest number in the NBA) and 20 steals. His average of 3.73 blocks per game led the league, and he also added an average of 1.33 steals per game. Additionally, Wembanyama had 10 games with four or more blocks and six games with two or more steals.

So far this season, Wembanyama is averaging 24.7 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.1 blocks and 1.1 steals in 29.2 minutes of play. His block and rebound averages rank first and fifth in the league, respectively.

Considered the favorite to win the award for NBA Defensive Player of the Year and a contender in the tight race for MVPWembanyama needs to play in at least four of San Antonio’s final five games — following Thursday’s game — to reach the 65-game threshold required to be eligible for postseason awards.