Breaking news from Las Vegas. The Spurs have their star back. Victor Wembanyama has been cleared after a calf injury and is in the fold for the NBA Cup semifinal against the Thunder. San Antonio just toppled the Lakers 132 to 119 on Dec 11, and now the tournament gets real. The city can feel it. The locker room can, too.
Wembanyama is back, and the timing could not be better
Wembanyama returns after roughly a month out. The Spurs have missed his length, his spacing, and his gravity. They survived without him. Now they get his rim protection and lob threat at the perfect moment. Expect a measured ramp in minutes, but his presence changes every matchup. The Spurs can station him at the arc to pull bigs out of the paint. They can drop him into the lane and erase drives. Both looks are on the board.
Wembanyama on the floor changes the math at the rim. Opponents hesitate. Teammates attack with freedom.
How San Antonio got here
The Spurs did not stumble into this stage. They earned it. On Dec 11, they stunned the Lakers 132 to 119 to punch their ticket to Las Vegas. Rookie guard Stephon Castle rose to the moment with 30 points and 10 rebounds. De’Aaron Fox added 20 and controlled pace when it mattered. That win capped a run of nine victories in twelve games, all while Wembanyama watched.
Veterans took ownership of the room. Chris Paul set the tone late in games. Keldon Johnson gave the bench scoring and edge. Head coach Mitch Johnson kept the rotation tight and the message simple, defend, run, trust the pass. It worked, and it traveled.
San Antonio’s best runs in this tournament came when they pushed off the glass and kept turnovers under control.
The Thunder test, and what changes with Wemby
Oklahoma City brings firepower. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lives in the midrange and lives at the line. Chet Holmgren stretches defenses and flies to the rim. Jalen Williams punishes switches. The Spurs know this. With Wembanyama back, they can meet those strengths in the paint and in space.
- Paint control, Wembanyama and Chet will battle for vertical space and second chances.
- Perimeter containment, Fox and Castle must shade Shai’s strong hand and live with tough twos.
- Tempo swings, Chris Paul will slow pockets of the game to blunt OKC’s runs.
- Bench punch, Keldon Johnson’s minutes against second units can tilt momentum.
Look for San Antonio to toggle coverages. Drop with Wemby to protect the cup. Switch late with length when Shai snakes the screen. Offense will flow through early drag screens, with Wembanyama sprinting into the lane for quick seals. If OKC packs the paint, the Spurs will space five out and let Fox and Castle attack closeouts.
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NBA Cup games count in the standings, but the bracket is single elimination. One win puts San Antonio in the final.
Depth, new deals, and the Spurs’ culture edge
San Antonio’s depth has been the quiet star of this run. The front office signed Kyle Mangas to a two-way deal, a nod to guard depth and shooting insurance. The team also waived Riley Minix as he continues to recover. The Austin pipeline remains active, and that flexibility matters in a tournament window.
Paul’s voice has mattered. Johnson’s toughness has mattered. The young core bought into small jobs, then grew them. That is Spurs basketball. It shows in late-game poise, in defensive talk, and in how they share the ball. Now they fold Wembanyama back into a group that learned how to win without him. That is dangerous for everyone else.
Expect early minutes with Wembanyama and four shooters. The goal is simple, open the lane, force OKC into tough help decisions.
What this run means
This Cup surge is a proof of concept. The Spurs can win with defense first, with pace, with balance, and with a young star returning to shape. It boosts belief for the spring. It gives the staff real film on playoff style basketball. It also raises the bar. Health and shot selection will decide how high they climb, but the direction is clear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q, Is Victor Wembanyama fully cleared to play,
A, Yes. He has been cleared from his calf injury and is available for the semifinal.
Q, How did the Spurs reach the NBA Cup semifinal,
A, They beat the Lakers 132 to 119 on Dec 11, powered by Stephon Castle’s 30 and 10.
Q, What is the key matchup against the Thunder,
A, The battle at the rim. Wembanyama against Chet Holmgren shifts spacing and rebounding.
Q, Who are the Spurs’ leaders in this run,
A, Chris Paul and Keldon Johnson have driven late-game calm and bench production.
Q, Any recent roster moves,
A, The Spurs signed Kyle Mangas to a two-way deal and waived Riley Minix.
The bottom line is simple. San Antonio has momentum, a healthy cornerstone, and a path to the NBA Cup Final. If the defense travels and the ball keeps popping, the Spurs are built to finish the job.
