SAN ANTONIO — Victor Wembanyama experienced a setback during the San Antonio Spurs’ matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night, leaving the court just three minutes into the game due to a potential worsening of a lower back condition. However, he returned to the game shortly thereafter.

The towering center, who measures 7 feet 3 inches, noticed an issue after executing a bounce pass that was intercepted by Herbert Jones from New Orleans; he signaled for a timeout and appeared to be in discomfort while holding his lower back. His troubles seemed to stem from landing awkwardly after grabbing an offensive rebound earlier in the play.

Following this incident, San Antonio called for a timeout with 8:59 remaining in the first quarter, and Wembanyama headed to the locker room moments later, walking off the court without assistance but with his head down.

Despite the scare, he was back on the bench and ready to rejoin the game with 9:34 left in the second quarter. Prior to this game, Wembanyama had missed the last two contests due to a sore lower back, which he first aggravated on December 3 during a loss to the Phoenix Suns.

He attempted to participate in the game against Sacramento on Friday but was ultimately unable to play after struggling through pregame workouts. Just moments before the game against the Pelicans, Wembanyama was officially announced as a starter, having tested his back injury prior to the match.

In a further turn of events, the Spurs also lost Zach Collins to injury midway through the first quarter when he fell hard onto his right hip while fouling and colliding with Dejounte Murray during an attempted rebound. He, too, was diagnosed with a lower back injury.