Spurs star Wembanyama will miss game against Thunder while recovering from a bruised right knee

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama will be sidelined against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night as he recovers from a bruised right knee.

San Antonio guard Devin Vassell is also out for the NBA Cup game with a sore left knee.

Wembanyama and Vassell also sat out Saturday’s loss to Dallas. Both are listed as day to day.

Oklahoma City is without Chet Holmgren, who fractured his right hip on Nov. 10 in a game against Golden State. He is expected to miss up to 10 weeks.

Wembanyama suffered the injury on Friday when he collided with Anthony Davis midway through the fourth quarter of San Antonio’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Wembanyama, who incurred a foul on the play, briefly exited the game but returned as the Spurs fell 120-115.

Wembanyama, last year’s unanimous selection as NBA Rookie of the Year, is averaging 22.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.7 blocks and 2.8 assists in 13 games.

Vassell missed the first nine games of the season following offseason surgery to repair a stress fracture in the third metatarsal of his right foot. After playing four straight, Vassell sat out Saturday's game with a sore knee not related to his foot surgery.

“Foot is fine,” Spurs acting coach Mitch Johnson said. “It's just a flare-up in his knee. Being conservative as we've been all month.”

San Antonio remains without coach Gregg Popovich, who suffered a mild stroke on Nov. 2 before a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. There is no timetable for the NBA’s longest-tenured coach to return to the sideline.

Johnson is the acting head coach in Popovich’s absence.

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