NBA Notes: Spurs, Victor Wembanyama, Nets, Cam Thomas, Heat

Spurs

The Spurs are starting to look the part of a real contender after notching another win over Oklahoma City, but don’t expect the recent surge to alter how they handle Victor Wembanyama.

Wembanyama remains on a minutes restriction as he works his way back from a left calf strain that sidelined him for 12 games, writes Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News.

He has come off the bench in all seven games since returning and logged 19 points and 11 rebounds in just 26 minutes during Thursday’s win over the defending champs.

Coach Mitch Johnson made it clear that momentum, stakes, or atmosphere won’t change the plan.

“I don’t know when it becomes unrestricted, but his minutes will be mindful for dot, dot, dot,” Johnson said. “There’s nothing that’s going to make us flinch or change on that. If this game goes into triple overtime, he will not be in the game.”

Johnson added that Wembanyama is fully aligned with the cautious approach. After missing the post-All-Star portion of last season due to deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder, the organization’s priority is availability now and in the years ahead.

“There’s nothing worth sacrificing or risking his long-term health and his long-term growth,” Johnson said, emphasizing the big picture over short-term gains.

Nets

The Nets are expected to get a boost Saturday, with Cam Thomas on track to return against Minnesota, head coach Jordi Fernandez confirmed, via Brian Lewis of the New York Post.

Thomas went through a full-contact practice Friday morning after receiving clearance, a welcome development for a Brooklyn team that has quietly stabilized. After opening the season 3-16, the Nets have gone 6-3 over their past nine games.

“I just want to get back on the court and play,” Thomas said, via Lewis. “It’s obviously good seeing them playing well. I just want to get back on the court and play.”

Thomas signed a one-year qualifying offer last summer and has appeared in just eight games this season, averaging 21.4 points and 2.6 assists in 28.3 minutes.

The production has never been the issue. Availability has. He’s played only 33 games over the past two seasons, making health the defining variable going forward.

Heat

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra isn’t known for sugarcoating things, and second-year center Kel’el Ware is learning to live with it.

Ware said that Spoelstra’s public critiques aren’t new territory for him, having received similar treatment in college from Dana Altman and Mike Woodson.

“I’ve been getting coached like that,” Ware said, via Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. “So it’s not much of a big thing to me. I just take it as they want to see me be better.”

Spoelstra challenged Ware over the summer to improve his professionalism and consistently impact winning beyond the box score. While Ware’s numbers are trending upward, the Heat coach continues to demand more, particularly on the defensive end.

“He’s handling it appropriately when he’s being held accountable to winning things,” Spoelstra said. “We want growth faster. I want him to be like he’s 28, and that’s not realistic. But his play is improving, and I want to feel that.”