Victor Wembanyama 'Very Close' to Return as Spurs Target Las Vegas Trip

San Antonio — The same court that the San Antonio Spurs had hoped to avoid in early November is once again the stage for their upcoming game. This wasn't part of the original plan.

After several key players from the Los Angeles Lakers raised concerns about the slippery conditions of the NBA Cup court, the league decided to let the Lakers use their regular court for the quarterfinals matchup. Despite the familiar setting, the pressure on the young Spurs team is immense.

"It's definitely huge," Keldon Johnson said during shootaround Wednesday. "Being able to play in an atmosphere like this, for such a young team, is a big step."

"Excited to go out there and try to go win it all," Dylan Harper added.

The Spurs are coming off a road victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, which solidified an 8-3 record without Victor Wembanyama on the floor. They're now aiming for their sixth consecutive win this season.

Luka Dončić, who averages a league-leading 35 points per game, will be the main obstacle as both teams compete for a spot in the NBA Cup Semifinals in Las Vegas.

"He's someone, as a big guard, you watch growing up," Harper said. "His feel, his pace, his height — he gets to his spots. But now, we're competing. I'm going out there with a mindset that we're all the same."

Harper was notably absent during the Spurs' last visit to Los Angeles, when the team fell just two free throws short of a comeback victory at the end of regulation on a road trip that cost them two games.

Now back in the lineup alongside De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, the Spurs are relying on their guard trio offensively in place of Wembanyama.

"Another step toward being in Vegas," Johnson said. "We're going to come out here with the same mindset: play together, get it done, find a way. That's the name of the game each and every night."

Wembanyama suffered a calf strain before the Spurs' home game against the Sacramento Kings on November 16. Since then, he has missed 12 games as the team's medical staff oversees his return-to-play process.

A high-stakes game in Los Angeles did not influence the decision regarding his return.

"He's doing great, he's getting very, very close," Spurs coach Mitch Johnson explained. "Unfortunately, all of the added excitement is not going to play into the decision on if he plays or not ... that's more of an outside narrative."

Wembanyama participated in two-on-two scrimmages in New Orleans before joining the Spurs on their trip out West. Since then, he has progressed to five-on-five practices. The next step for San Antonio is to monitor how his calf responds to the increased physicality over the course of several days.

"Whatever five-on-five that we try to replicate is not an NBA game," Johnson said. "So, we're just making sure we feel good about that ... if we continue to progress, which we feel very good about, we'll hopefully see him out here soon."

Without Wembanyama, the Spurs have managed a strong record. Injuries to Luke Kornet and Stephon Castle initially disrupted on-court chemistry after the Frenchman went down, but Johnson's roster remains focused on its postseason goals.

Picking up the slack is part of the job description for a hungry NBA player coached by Gregg Popovich. Keldon Johnson takes this responsibility seriously.

"Vic's a big piece of whatever we do," the forward said. "He's our guy ... but ultimately, we know we're building toward a goal of being in the playoffs. We've got to hold it down while he's gone, and continue the good habits (as if he) was here."

Like in February, Wembanyama is eager to return to the court. However, Coach Mitch Johnson continues to trust the medical staff as they work to prevent further injury. Until he is cleared, Wembanyama will support the team from the sidelines.

"When he's ready to come back, we're ready for him," Keldon Johnson said, "but until then, his health is our main thing."

Perhaps the Spurs' secondary goal is a revenge win over the Lakers with a trip to Las Vegas on the line. They would gladly achieve that without the bright yellow court.

"Big stakes game in L.A.," Castle said. "It doesn't get much better than that."

The tipoff between the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Cup Quarterfinals is set for 9 p.m. Central time on Wednesday night.