Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan is nearing his return from thumb surgery, writes Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News. Sochan, who has been out of action since fracturing his left thumb in a November 4 game, told reporters tonight that he expects to be back on the court soon.
“I’ve been wanting to play since last week, but I still got to stay patient and just follow protocol,” he said. “But it’s going to be sooner than later. So, I think it’s going to be days instead of months, so that’s the most important thing.”
Before the injury, Sochan was averaging a career-high 15.4 PPG through seven games, along with 7.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 steals. The team hasn’t set a definite timetable for him to resume playing, but interim head coach Mitch Johnson suggested he “could potentially be ahead of schedule.”
“The medical team, performance staff have done a great job,” Johnson added. “He’s been able to do some things in terms of running and staying in shape and I know we’ve heard all positive feedback.”
Johnson also announced that Devin Vassell was cleared to return for tonight’s game against the Lakers, Orsborn adds. Vassell sat out the last five games with a bruised bone in his left knee.
There’s more from the Southwest Division:
- Mavericks star Luka Doncic, who is sidelined with a sprained right wrist, was able to go through a pre-game workout tonight, according to Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal. The team will practice on Friday, when more clarity should be provided about Doncic’s availability for a weekend road trip. “He’s doing his individual workouts,” coach Jason Kidd said. “Everything I’ve heard or seen is trending in the right direction.”
- Mavericks center Daniel Gafford will consider joining forces with Donic at next year’s EuroBasket as a naturalized player on the Slovenian national team, Afseth adds in a separate story. “I think it’d be great. We already have a good relationship, but doing something like that could take it to the next level,” Gafford said. “It would give me a chance to see his background, learn about where he came from, and understand how he started his professional career. That would help us connect more.”
- The Grizzlies are the healthiest they’ve been all season after Ja Morant returned Monday following an eight-game absence due to a hip injury, notes Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. Even though Morant missed tonight’s contest with a knee contusion, there’s renewed optimism that the team is ready to make a run. “We’re clicking right now, and we got to ride that wave until it is out and for as long as we can,” Marcus Smart said. “I like the direction that we are headed.”