Wembanyama Hits 65-Game Threshold in Spurs Win

Victor Wembanyama returned to the court for the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night, playing through a rib injury to secure his eligibility for NBA postseason awards in a 139-120 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. The 22-year-old French center logged 26 minutes, scoring 40 points, grabbing 13 rebounds and dishing five assists, reaching the league's 65-game threshold just in time for consideration in races for Defensive Player of the Year, All-NBA honors and Most Valuable Player.

Wembanyama had missed one game due to the injury, putting his award hopes at risk as the regular season wound down. He needed at least 20 minutes to qualify and exceeded that mark, helping the Spurs clinch their first playoff appearance in seven years. "If I had 65 games before, I for sure wouldn't have played," Wembanyama told reporters afterward, reflecting on the stakes. His performance underscored a season in which he averaged 24.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.1 steals and a league-leading 3.1 blocks per game, shooting 51 percent from the field.

The effort reignited debate over the NBA's 65-game rule, part of the collective bargaining agreement aimed at curbing load management. Wembanyama...