NBA Notes: Spurs, Victor Wembanyama, Knicks, Josh Hart, Lakers

Spurs

Victor Wembanyama is getting closer, even if the Spurs still aren’t sure when he’ll actually play again.

Head coach Mitch Johnson said the star center will travel to Los Angeles for Wednesday’s NBA Cup quarterfinal against the Lakers, via Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News.

Wembanyama practiced fully on Sunday but sat again Monday, his 11th straight absence since suffering a left calf strain on November 15. The Spurs won’t push him, but there’s at least some optimism now that he’s back around the group.

Before the injury, Wembanyama was putting up video-game numbers. He’s averaging 26 points, nearly 13 rebounds, four assists and more than three blocks in 12 appearances. The 7-foot-4 franchise anchor continues to look every bit like the player San Antonio hoped for when it drafted him No. 1 in 2023.

Knicks

The Knicks know this stage well. They’ve been bounced in the NBA Cup quarterfinals in each of the past two years, and Josh Hart says it’s time to change that.

“Every year we fell short at this stage,” Hart said, via Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. “So we got to get over that hump.”

New York opens knockout play Tuesday at Toronto. Win that, and it’s off to Las Vegas to face the Miami-Orlando winner on Saturday.

Head coach Mike Brown leaned into the moment. “Life is short. You want excitement,” Brown said. “This is about as close as you can get to simulating a playoff run, so you embrace the pressure.”

Lakers

The Lakers are hoping Marcus Smart is finally ready to return. The former Defensive Player of the Year has missed six straight games with a back issue — the latest diagnosis being a left lumbar muscle strain — but worked out on the court Sunday in Philadelphia.

“He’s getting closer,” coach JJ Redick told reporters, adding the team is eyeing Wednesday’s matchup with the Spurs while still keeping him day-to-day.