SAN ANTONIO – Spurs star Victor Wembanyama completed light cardio work on Wednesday without his concussion symptoms worsening, a positive early step in his recovery as the team eyes Friday’s Game 3 against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson confirmed during Thursday morning practice that Wembanyama is continuing to progress and will travel with the team to Portland. Wembanyama attended Thursday’s practice in street clothes.
Wembanyama’s status for the game, however, is uncertain as he must clear multiple stages of the NBA’s concussion protocol.
The third-year pro suffered the concussion after a hard fall in the second quarter of Tuesday night’s Game 2, a 106-103 loss to the Trail Blazers that evened the first-round Western Conference playoff series at 1.
He played just 12 minutes before he left the game and did not return. The Spurs went without their 7-foot-4 centerpiece for much of the second half.
Under NBA guidelines, players in the concussion protocol cannot participate in unrestricted basketball activities for at least 48 hours after the injury.
If symptoms do not worsen, gradual activity can resume earlier followed by a series of symptom-free benchmarks that must be cleared before a team physician and league protocol director can approve a return to play.
Game 3 is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Friday at Portland’s Moda Center. Game 4 is set for 2:30 p.m. Sunday in Portland.
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