San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) (Image via AP Photo/Darren Abate) Victor Wembanyama’s status is the main question before the San Antonio Spurs hosted the Los Angeles Lakers on January 7. He is listed as questionable with a left knee bone bruise, leaving his availability unclear until close to tipoff.The timing matters a great deal. This is a matchup between two teams near the top of the Western Conference standings, and Wembanyama’s presence would heavily influence how the game played out. Even after missing time, everything around the game revolves around whether he will play tonight.
How Victor Wembanyama’s injury happened
Victor Wembanyama injured his left knee on New Year’s Eve against the New York Knicks. He hyperextended it on a play that later resulted in a bone bruise. The Spurs held him out for two games to avoid further damage.He returned on January 6 against Memphis and came off the bench. In just 21 minutes, he scored 30 points. Despite how effective he looked, the coaching staff kept him on a minutes restriction and did not bring him back late in the game. San Antonio lost 106-105, but the bigger focus was how his knee responded.
Victor Wembanyama’s Official injury status before the Lakers game on Jan 7
The NBA injury report released at 6:15 PM ET still lists Wembanyama as questionable for the 9:30 PM ET tipoff. The Spurs treat him as a game-time decision, especially with the team playing on the second night of a back-to-back.San Antonio enters the game with a 25-11 record, second in the West. The Lakers are close behind at 23-11, sitting third. The Spurs are coming off the loss in Memphis, while the Lakers arrived riding a three-game winning streak.
Los Angeles Lakers arrive with their own questions
The Lakers are led by Luka Dončić, with LeBron James also listed as questionable. If both stars play, the game will have the feel of a playoff matchup despite being early January.Betting lines favor San Antonio by 7.5 points. Wembanyama-related player props drew heavy attention, with many focused on whether he could clear the 21.5-point mark if he played.
Why Wembanyama matters so much
Wembanyama changes how teams play. His size affects shot selection, his defense alters spacing, and his scoring gives San Antonio Spurs options few teams can match. Even limited minutes force opponents to adjust.This season, he is averaging 24.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks. Those numbers explain why his availability matters so much, especially for a Spurs team with championship goals.Also read: Is Luka Doncic playing tonight vs the San Antonio Spurs? Latest update on the Los Angeles Lakers star’s injury report (Jan 7, 2026)As of the afternoon, no final decision had been made. The San Antonio Spurs were encouraged by how Wembanyama looked in his return but remained careful with his workload. Whether he played or sat, his status shaped the entire conversation around this game.