Overview
- Victor Wembanyama returned from a rib contusion Friday against Dallas and posted 40 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 blocks in 26 minutes to log his 65th game.
- By playing at least 20 minutes and reaching 65 games, he now qualifies for season awards under NBA rules that set those minimums.
- Reporters widely label him the Defensive Player of the Year favorite, and he said he would be surprised not to win it unanimously.
- An anonymous players' poll by The Athletic placed him outside the top five for MVP with roughly 5% support, though media members, not players, cast the official votes.
- San Antonio is locked into the No. 2 seed in the West with two games left, putting Wembanyama on course for his first NBA playoffs after a managed return from the rib bruise.