The San Antonio Spurs hope to have superstar Victor Wembanyama back in the lineup as they aim to snap a two-game losing streak when they host the Sacramento Kings on Friday.
Both teams will be playing the second game of a back-to-back set.
The Spurs fell at home to the Chicago Bulls 139-124 on Thursday without Wembanyama, who was sidelined with a sore back. Meanwhile, the Kings suffered a 115-110 road loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, marking their third defeat in the past four games.
San Antonio struggled in the first half, allowing 73 points and trailing by 16 at halftime. Despite clawing back within eight points with 3:18 remaining, the Spurs ultimately ran out of steam and time, surrendering nine straight points.
Keldon Johnson led the Spurs with 28 points off the bench, while Jeremy Sochan contributed 16 points and 14 rebounds. San Antonio never led in the game and has now dropped three of its last four contests.
Wembanyama is likely to be listed as questionable for Friday’s game but is expected to return for the Spurs’ Sunday home matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Kings led for much of their game against Memphis and were up by 12 midway through the second quarter. The contest featured 11 ties and 20 lead changes.
DeMar DeRozan paced Sacramento with 26 points, Malik Monk added 23 points, and Domantas Sabonis (17 points, 13 rebounds) and Keegan Murray (11 points, 11 rebounds) each recorded double-doubles.
Sacramento, which has lost seven of its last nine games, led 101-98 after a Monk jumper with 6:15 to play before allowing Memphis to go on a 6-0 run. The Kings never regained the lead.
Sacramento pulled within a point after another Monk bucket with 3:50 left, but the Grizzlies responded with four straight points and held on for the win.
Monk has moved into the starting lineup this week as the Kings continue to figure out a rotation that works. They struggled with that on Thursday when their bench was outscored 60-15 by the Grizzlies’ reserves.
The Spurs have won the first two games of the season series, including a two-point victory in Sacramento on Sunday behind Wembanyama’s first triple-double of the season (34 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists).
