Boom San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama has been sensationally ruled out just before his team’s game against the Mavericks after a freak incident in warmups.
Wembanyama had just completed a layup and in his follow through, stepped on the foot of a stadium employee who was standing on the court.
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Wembanyama was already on a minutes restriction because of right ankle soreness and had been playing through it in recent games.
It is understood that Wembanyama was keen to play but Spurs coach Gregg Popovich decided to keep his star No.1 pick out as a precaution.
DETROIT ONE LOSS AWAY FROM HISTORY
The Detroit Pistons have tied the record for the most consecutive losses in a single season in NBA history after notching up their 26th straight in a 126-115 to the Brooklyn Nets.
This season’s Pistons match the embarrassing mark set by the 2010-2011 Cleveland Cavaliers and also reached by the 2013-2014 Philadelphia 76ers.
Detroit will face Brooklyn at home on Wednesday where they will attempt to end the slide.
The losing streak has been noticeably tough on new coach Monty Williams and his players.
Former no.1 pick Cade Cunningham has said he’s been “sick” knowing that the Pistons are “no way” as bad as their record suggests.
CELTICS BOAST LEAGUE BEST RECORD AFTER STATEMENT WIN
The Boston Celtics are the new owners of the NBA’s best record after a resounding 37-point road win against the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Celtics, who didn’t need superstar Jayson Tatum (30 points) at all in the final quarter, improved to a 22-6 record with the win, while at the same time handing the Clippers their second-straight loss.
Tatum received M-V-P chants from those in attendance at Crypto.com arena after putting on a scoring clinic in the first two and a half quarters, as Boston went out to a 92-62 lead.
Included in Tatum’s 30 points, was a highlight-reel poster dunk on former Celtic Daniel Theis.
“We got the best fans in the world,” Tatum said post-game.
Prior to the mini losing streak, the Clippers had won eight consecutive games to inject themselves into the top four of the Western Conference standings.
However, without Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers were no match for the Celtics, who led by 17 at halftime.
BUCKS CONTINUE WINNING WAYS AS PORTIS DELIVERS OFF THE BENCH
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 28 points to lead the Milwaukee over New York 130-111, stretching the Bucks’ NBA win streak to seven games.
The Greek star added seven rebounds and seven assists while Bobby Portis came off the bench to deliver 23 points and a team-high 11 rebounds for the Bucks, who improved to 22-7.
“Right now our team is just rolling,” Portis said. “Everybody is playing with swag and confidence, playing together.
“Basketball is beautiful when you play it the right way — just great ball movement, trusting one another, getting to the right spots.”
Jalen Brunson scored a game-high 36 points and Julius Randle added 26 for the Knicks, who will try to snap a nine-game losing streak against the Bucks in their Christmas holiday rematch on Monday, also at Madison Square Garden.
“We played out of a hole from the start of the game,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “And it snowballed from there.
“Every aspect of the game we were a step behind. Just a low-energy type game so we’ve got to bounce back.”
Khris Middleton added 20 points for the Bucks while Milwaukee had 19 each from Damian Lillard and Malik Beasley.
The Bucks out-rebounded the Knicks 53-40.
“We just tried to clean up the rebound war,” Portis said.
“They’re a great rebounding team overall. We didn’t give up too many second-chance points.” The Bucks remained second in the Eastern Conference behind the Celtics while the Knicks slid to 16-12, sixth in the East.
Antetokounmpo, who ranks third in NBA scoring with 30.9 points a game, overcame early foul trouble to spark a second-half surge for the Bucks, who kept the lead into the fourth quarter and pulled away in the final minutes.
Brunson scored 21 points in the first half, including a corner jumper at the halftime buzzer to lift the Knicks within 62-54.
NBA SCORES – DECEMBER 24
Celtics 145 @ Clippers 108
Bucks 130 @ Knicks 111
Rockets 106 @ Pelicans 104
Nuggets 102 @ Hornets 95
Magic 117 @ Pacers 110
Jazz 126 @ Raptors 119
Pistons 115 @ Nets 126
Grizzlies 125 @ Hawks 119
Cavaliers 109 @ Bulls 95
Lakers 129 @ Thunder 120
In progress
Spurs @ Mavericks
Timberwolves @ Kings
Warriors @ Trail Blazers