Trail Blazers won’t face Victor Wembanyama twice in upcoming back-to-back games against Spurs

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Tuesday that rookie Victor Wembanyama will not play in both games at the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday and Friday at the Moda Center.

Wembanyama, who injured his ankle Saturday night during warmups prior to the Spurs (4-25) playing at Dallas, returned to action Tuesday night against the Utah Jazz.

After the game, Popovich made it clear that Wembanyama would not play in both games at the Blazers (8-21).

The 7-foot-4 center scored 15 points in 24 minutes against the Jazz and added seven rebounds and five blocked shots in a 130-118 loss. But that wasn’t good enough to convince Popovich that his prized rookie was completely healthy.

“He didn’t look 100% to me,” Popovich said told reporters. “But he says he feels fine.”

Wembanyama said he wanted to play in both games at the Blazers but would respect the decision of his team’s medical staff.

“If it was up to me, I’d play every game,” Wembanyama told reporters.

Twice this season Wembanyama has played in back-to-back games.

Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, who said he was looking forward to facing the 2023 No. 1-overall draft pick, played 18 years in the NBA. Not since LeBron James in 2003, Billups said, has he seen a rookie receive the level of hype Wembanyama is receiving.