The San Antonio Spurs will have to try to win Game 3 without their seven-foot-four superstar.
“He’s continuing to progress,” Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said of Wembanyama before the game.
The French phenom was originally listed as questionable for Game 3 as he continues to work his way through the league’s concussion protocol.
Wembanyama — the league’s first-ever unanimous Defensive Player of the Year and one of three finalists for the Most Valuable Player award — suffered the concussion in Game 2 when he fell and hit his face on the floor.
Any extended absence by Wembanyama would be a massive blow to San Antonio, which finished with the league’s second-best record behind the versatile centre from France. They were 12-6 in the regular season without Wembanyama.
Wembanyama averaged 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and a league-best 3.1 blocks per game this season.
Friday’s Game 3 is in Portland with the series tied 1-1.