After an examination Saturday, the Spurs medical staff downgraded second-round pick Chimezie Metu’s left wrist injury from a sprain to a fracture, a league source said Saturday.
Storyline: Chimezie Metu Injury
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The Spurs medical staff confirmed Saturday that second-round draft pick Chimezie Metu fractured his left wrist during action at the Las Vegas Summer League, a league source said. Metu was injured late in the Spurs’ 95-90 win over Washington on Sunday, when he landed awkwardly after leaping to catch a lob pass at the rim.
After undergoing X-rays on Sunday at UNLV, Metu was diagnosed with a wrist sprain. But Spurs team doctors suspected a possible fracture and an examination on Saturday after Metu returned from Las Vegas confirmed it. Metu has been fitted with a cast. The injury is not considered serious.
Tom Orsborn: #Spurs medical staff will examine Chimezie Metu’s sprained left wrist for a possible fracture after he returns to San Antonio on Saturday.
Paul Garcia: The Spurs have announced Derrick White, Lonnie Walker IV, and Chimezie Metu are all OUT today for the Spurs’ last SL game due to injury.
When the team resumes tournament play Thursday against Milwaukee, Metu will be in street clothes. “It sucks,” said Metu, the high-energy center the Spurs selected 49th overall out of USC in June. “I can go play right now. They said it might be fractured, but honestly it feels perfectly fine.”
Metu said he understands the Spurs’ caution but is frustrated by what he views as a missed opportunity. “I’m kind of bummed,” Metu said. “They’re being cautious for good reasons. I trust them. At the same time, I feel like there’s a lot more I could go out there and show.”
February 23, 2019 | 8:52 pm EST Update
Karl-Anthony Towns remains in concussion protocol and will not play for Minnesota against Milwaukee, a night after missing a game for the first time in his career. The All-Star forward was in a car accident Thursday and didn’t play Friday in New York, ending his streak of 303 consecutive games started. He traveled with the Timberwolves for the game in Milwaukee on Saturday, rather than return to Minnesota, but hadn’t been cleared to play again.
Being unable to play has troubled Towns, coach Ryan Saunders said. “People asked me if he cared about his [consecutive games] streak,” Saunders said. “He hasn’t and didn’t mention one thing along those lines. It was all about being there for his teammates and contributing. He even had somebody run out and make sure he could get a sport coat so he was dressed properly on the bench so he could be there with his teammates. That says a lot about Karl.”
Jason Anderson: Worth noting: Joerger said his exchange with Hield “wasn’t about shot selection,” but it WAS about Hield not running the play he called. Kind of a distinction without a difference. Anyway, the words you all probably want to hear Joerger say about Buddy: “I love him to death.”
Eric Woodyard: Jazz coach Quin Snyder on Dirk Nowitzki: “Watching him throughout the course of his career you feel you’ve been treated.” Tonight could possibly be his last game in Salt Lake City.
Eddie Sefko: Rick Carlisle says Luka Doncic is officially out tonight at Utah.
Eric Walden: Mavs’ Maxi Kleber is also out tonight, due to illness. “He’s back at the hotel throwing up,” said coach Rick Carlisle.
Shandel Richardson: First appearance for Goran Dragic since the injury
