The Wembanyama Spurs do not raise their heads. Gregg Popovich's team suffered a new defeat this morning against the Utah Jazz (118-130) and only the Detroit Pistons, who have won 27 in a row, save the Texans from being the worst team in the league. The French prodigy had 15 points, four assists, seven rebounds and five blocks: insufficient numbers for the number one in the draft who came clean at the end of the game.
"Don't know. If we knew, we would correct it immediately. But there are plenty of reasons for me," 'Wemby' responded, worried, after being asked what are the reasons that have led those from San Antonio to lose their last five duels played and add 25 KOs so far this year. The Spurs are last in the Western Conference (4-25).
The 19-year-old center returned to the court this Wednesday and only played 24 minutes against the Jazz, after being injured last week in the warm-up against the Mavericks. Texan power forward Keldon Johnson took over from Wembanyama, being his team's top scorer (26 points, three assists and four rebounds). Texan guard Devin Vassell followed in his teammate's footsteps with 22 figures, as did Jeremy Sochan with 19.
Gregg Popovich's players are forced to take a step forward in the next day of the NBA, when the Spurs will face the Blazers, penultimate in the West and direct rival of the Texan team in the table. For this confrontation, the American coach will not have the French player. “The medical staff forced me to rest. If it were up to me, I would play every game,” said Wembanyama, who still has discomfort in his ankle.
If the Spurs are bad, the Pistons are worse. Monty Williams' team has a record of 2-28, after last morning his team lost to the Brooklyn Nets (112-118). Thus, they surpass the record of the Philadelphia 76ers of 2013-14 and the Cavaliers of 2010-11, who to date held the record of the worst streak of KOs in the league with 26 games lost in a row.
The Pistons have lost 27 in a row in the championship, but they could still overcome another negative record in their next game, if they do not beat the Boston Celtics. This is the 29 consecutive setbacks that the 76ers accumulated from 2014-2015 and 2015-16, counting the end of one season and the beginning of the next.
On the other hand, the Grizzlies remain undefeated with Morant at the helm of the Memphis franchise, after coming back from their duel against the Pelicans (115-116). Taylor Jenkins' team has won three out of three since his biggest star returned to the court.
Those from Tennessee were able this time to even a game that they lost by 13 points at the beginning of the last quarter, force overtime and take the victory with 31 points and seven assists from the South Carolina point guard. Spanish Santi Aldama did not score points, although he captured two rebounds for Memphis.
