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Victor Wembanayama appears likely to play Game 4 vs. the Trail Blazers, a top sports doctor now predicts.

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is still seeking to clear the NBA’s concussion protocol ahead of Sunday’s pivotal Game 4 against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Wembanyama, 22, was diagnosed with a concussion after taking a harsh, face-first fall early in the second quarter of Game 2 in San Antonio. 

Replay showed Wembanyama hitting his face and jaw area with tremendous force. It appeared the Spurs star even briefly lost consciousness, though there hasn’t been any report to confirm that. 

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The Spurs were fortunate to come away with a Game 3 win as they grabbed a 2-1 series lead. Had they lost that game, they would have been under enormous pressure to not only win Game 4 but to try and rush Wembanyama through concussion protocol as quickly as possible. 

San Antonio is seeking a commanding 3-1 lead over the seventh-seeded Blazers on Sunday, but it could be a prodigious task if Wembanyama is unable to play. 

Victor Wembanyana Update Emerges Just Ahead of Gametime

Outside of coach Mitch Johnson stating the team is monitoring Wembanyama’s status, the Spurs have been relatively mum on Wembanyama’s chances of playing the critical Game 4.

The good news was Wembanyama traveled with the team to Portland ahead of Game 3. He participated in shoot-around the morning of the game as all signs indicated he was progressing smoothly in concussion protocol.

Wembanyama ultimately did not play, but optimism increased that he would give it a go in Game 4.

Ahead of this afternoon’s tip off in Portland, ESPN NBA insider Tim Bontemps gave the latest on Wembanyama.

“With the ongoing symptoms of this concussion, whether he’ll be able to work through the concussion protocol and be able to play this afternoon [remains to be seen],”Bontemps said. … He has been ramping up over the past several days [and] has been trending, it looks like, towards potentially playing today, but again, we know concussions are tricky things.”

Spurs Potentially Faced With Another Playoff Game Without Star 

San Antonio showed some impressive backbone in the Game 3 win. 

The team overcame a large deficit thanks to the tremendous play of outstanding rookie guard Dylan Harper, who posted 27 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 75% from the floor. 

“It was a moment I’ve been waiting for since I was a little kid,” Harper said, reflecting on his incredible performance. “This is the biggest stage of basketball you could ever get to.”

Not to be outdone was second-year guard Stephon Castle, who recorded the first 30-point postseason game of his young career. 

“I had an aggressive mindset to start out,” said Castle, who recorded nearly as many points (33) as minutes played (34). “I wasn’t really settling too much. I kind of tried to pick my spots, and tried not to force it.”

The play of Harper and Castle was a huge welcome sign for the Spurs, who have plenty of aspirations this postseason. 

If Wembanyama is unable to suit up for a second straight game, the Spurs will need another herculean effort from their two young guards, whose combined age is 41, the same as LeBron James.

Game 4 from Portland is set for 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.