The San Antonio Spurs could get their star back tonight. Victor Wembanyama is listed as questionable for the road game at the Memphis Grizzlies after hyperextending his left knee on New Year’s Eve. The injury looked scary in the moment, but early signs have been encouraging, and a return as soon as tonight is firmly on the table.

Here’s what we know: the MRI showed no ligament damage or bone bruise, Wembanyama traveled with the team, practiced Monday, and took part in Tuesday’s shootaround. The team is treating him day-to-day, but the calendar and the context suggest the Spurs are aiming for a careful green light.

What happened to Wembanyama?

Wembanyama hyperextended his left knee late in the Spurs’ win over the New York Knicks on Dec. 31 and sat out the last two games (Pacers, Trail Blazers). After the injury, he sounded optimistic.

“I was confident. I was this close to coming back in the game. (They) had to hold me back. It was just a hyperextension, so it should be minimal. We’ve got to do everything tomorrow still to check that everything’s OK.”

The Spurs’ medical read has matched his tone. No structural damage was found, and the team has labeled it a minor hyperextension. That is why Tuesday’s road date in Memphis was circled as a realistic return target almost right away.

Spurs’ latest update and possible plan

Interim head coach Mitch Johnson said the big man is trending the right way. “Vic is looking really good… I expect him to travel. It’s day to day…” The guardrails are clear: if he’s back, expect controlled minutes and possibly a bench role to keep the rhythm simple and the risk low, just like the team did when he returned from a left calf strain in December.

The decision will likely come down to how the knee responds after shootaround and pregame warmups. The Spurs can also lean on a strong recent pattern: they are 6-0 in games when Wembanyama returned off the bench earlier this season, a useful template for tonight.

“If he plays 18–22 smart minutes, that might be all they need.”

What it means for Spurs vs. Grizzlies tonight

San Antonio arrives at 25-10, second in the West, and a sharp 12-5 on the road. They’ve won four straight away and will chase a fifth at FedExForum. Memphis sits 15-20, 10th in the West, and 7-9 at home. Oddsmakers lean Spurs (-5.5 to -6.5), with a high total (238.5–239.5).

The matchup trends are friendly for the Spurs. They took both prior meetings this season—111-101 on Nov. 18 and 126-119 on Dec. 3—by controlling pace late and winning the glass. With Wembanyama active, the rim protection and lob gravity tilt further in San Antonio’s favor. Without him, the Spurs have still held up, ranking among the league’s better defenses on the season (allowing 114.2 points per game, 8th) while holding opponents to 46.5% shooting and limiting the damage to about 13.2 threes per game.

Either way, the Grizzlies will test the paint and try to speed the game. Wembanyama’s presence changes shot quality at the rim in a big way; his absence puts more on San Antonio’s help rotations and perimeter discipline.

“With or without Vic, Spurs have the blueprint: defend the arc, win the boards, and close quarters.”

San Antonio’s depth has answered the bell

One quiet story of the Spurs’ rise is how steady they’ve been when Wembanyama sits. They’re 10-4 in his 14 missed games this season. That’s not a small sample. It speaks to balance, spacing, and trust. It also speaks to how they’ve handled his returns: slow builds, controlled bursts, and no panic.

Wembanyama’s headline numbers—24.3 points and 11.7 rebounds per game—show his star power, but the Spurs’ wider ecosystem has kept humming. The team has shown they can drop Wemby into a game plan without disrupting the flow, especially when he enters from the bench and gets quick, focused shifts. Expect that if he plays tonight.

Grizzlies’ angle: can they flip home form?

Memphis has been choppy at home (7-9), but this is a spot to reset. The Grizzlies will want to attack early, try to win the free-throw battle, and make San Antonio defend multiple actions per trip. The total near 239 suggests pace and points, but the Spurs’ recent defensive form argues for a few key stops swinging the outcome.

If Wembanyama plays, Memphis will need to pull him into space and make him change directions. If he doesn’t, they’ll hammer the paint and crash the offensive glass. Either way, the Grizzlies must limit second-chance points—San Antonio has punished that in both meetings.

“Memphis needs a whistle, a hot hand, and a fast start. Two of the three won’t cut it.”

Why the timing matters for San Antonio

Tonight is not just about one game. The Spurs have a rugged stretch coming—Lakers, Celtics, Timberwolves, Thunder. Getting Wembanyama back in a measured way now could pay off later this week. The team can manage his minutes, build a rhythm, and keep the knee calm without rushing the process.

And there’s a bigger picture. San Antonio is 7-0 against the rest of the division this season and has real seeding goals. Every small edge counts, from defensive boards to bench pace. A healthy Wembanyama raises the Spurs’ ceiling, but a smart minutes plan may be the difference between a good January and a great one.

The bottom line

Tip is at 8:00 PM ET (7:00 PM CT) at FedExForum. If Wembanyama is cleared, expect him to play with a tight minutes plan and possibly off the bench. If not, the Spurs have shown they can still deliver winning basketball. Either way, the stakes are clear: bank another road win, keep the defense sharp, and roll healthy into a brutal week ahead.

It’s a long season. The Spurs’ smart, steady approach with Wembanyama’s knee is built for it.