Wembanyama Will Play Against Hornets, Harper Out For Spurs

SAN ANTONIO - The Spurs say that Victor Wembanyama will play in their Saturday matinee against the visiting Charlotte Hornets after initially being listed as questionable with a sore ankle.

"He's doing well, has to get through the last hurdle for pregame on court but feeling optimistic and if not today for sure really strong feeling for the next game," Mitch Johnson said before he was sure.

He was listed as questionable before San Antonio's Thursday night matchup with the Denver Nuggets, warmed up with ankle braces on as the team said he was truly 50-50, but was ruled out before tipoff. On Saturday afternoon, the extra hardware was notable absent from Wembanyama's ankles.

Wemby is warming up, Mitch optimistic he’ll play today

No ankle braces today, he gave them a test drive in his warmup before being ruled out against the Nuggets pic.twitter.com/piIiI0VoaP
— Silver & Black Coffee Hour (@SlvrBlkCoffeeHr) March 14, 2026

The Spurs fell to the Nuggets 134-131, and Wemby can only miss three more games for the rest of the season to remain eligible for MVP, All-NBA, and Defensive Player of the Year.

"It was a close call, because there was a chance he could play," Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said after the game. "But, yeah, it was clear that it was the right decision in terms of, there was nothing that we wanted to risk, has kind of been the North Star of every decision we've made or tried to have in terms of our intention with him, and don't think it'll be long term thing. So hopefully the rest will do him good."

Asked that night if he thought Wembanyama would be able to go against the Hornets on Saturday, Johnson was optimistic but noncommittal.

"I do, but that doesn't mean he will," Johnson said. "You know, it's going to be a wait and see thing. But yeah, I mean, he was pretty close tonight, so again, hopefully the rest serves him well, but if not, then we'll go to the next game."

Wembanyama was clearly missed in the loss to the Nuggets as San Antonio gave up 81 points in the second half and blew a 20-point lead. We probably won't know if he'll go until he goes through his warmup on Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, rookie Dylan Harper has been downgraded to out with a right calf contusion. He came up a little hobbled after a layup in the third quarter against Denver, but returned to the game. Mitch Johnson said before Saturday's game that the rookie is day-to-day, and his injury isn't considered serious.

blink and you'll miss the Slash Bros 💨

📺 @FanDuelSN_SW pic.twitter.com/3A4lfTjfpi
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) March 13, 2026

On a positive note, Harrison Barnes had missed the previous five games with an ankle impingement but returned against Denver for 20 points and seven rebounds.

"Big shots being able to rebound. He always makes the right play," De'Aaron Fox said of his fellow former King. "Good to have him back, and you can count him to make big shots and play smart."

The Spurs also upgraded their Two-Way G-League player Harrison Ingram to available for this one. The 6-foot-5 Ingram is averaging 16.2 points and 12.3 rebounds, the most of any player in the G-League with 25 games or more.

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