Preview: Spurs vs. Wizards – Summer League Game #5
Malaki Branham will look to get back on track tonight (Photo via Twitter)
The San Antonio Spurs will look to rebound from their first summer league loss, an 85-80 loss at the hands of the Portland Trail Blazers. Tonight, the Spurs take on the Washington Wizards in the Las Vegas Summer League at 9:30 pm CT.
After going 2-0 at the California Classic in Sacramento, San Antonio is now 1-1 in Vegas. Before losing to the Blazers, the Spurs defeated the Charlotte Hornets.
Will Victor Wembanyama Play for the Spurs in Summer League Tonight?
Victor Wembanyama will not play for the Spurs tonight. In fact, he won’t play again in summer league. The Spurs have decided to shut him down to keep him healthy and get him ready for the regular season.
While Wembanyama struggled at times during his summer league debut, he was great in the game against the Blazers. In 27 minutes, the 7-foot-5 native of France totaled 27 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks. He was 9-for-14 from the field, 2-for-4 from three-point range and 7-for-12 from the free throw line.
The next time Wembanyama suits up for the Spurs will be in the preseason in October. Between now and then, the No. 1 pick of the 2023 NBA Draft said he’ll use his time to get in better cardio shape, lift weights and hoop.
Malaki Branham and Julian Champagnie Looking to Bounce Back
After great starts to summer league, Malaki Branham and Julian Champagnie had performances to forget against Portland. Branham finished the contest 1-for-17 from the field, 3-of-6 on free throws and he hit just one of his eight three-point attempts. He also racked up five fouls and had a plus/minus of -8, which was the worst mark of all the starters.
Champagnie wasn’t much better than Branham. In fact, the main difference is that Champagnie just stopped shooting. In 30 minutes, he was 1-for-6 from the field, missed all three of his three-pointers and turned the ball over three times. Considering he entered the Blazers game as San Antonio’s best player in summer league, his outing was surprisingly very poor.
Betting Guide: Spurs vs. Wizards
Even though the Spurs will be without Wembanyama, Vegas oddsmakers still believe that San Antonio will win the game. The Spurs are favored by one point over the Wizards and the over/under is at 181.5 points.
While it doesn’t help that Wembanyama is away, the Spurs were 2-0 without him in Sacramento. For that reason, it’d be wise to continue to believe in San Antonio. If you’re wagering on this game, bet on the Spurs to win by two or more points.
If you prefer the over/under, the over is the better bet. With no Wembanyama in the middle, the Wizards will have an easier time scoring the ball. On the other side of the court, the Spurs will look to push the pace in order to get good shots.