In the last three games the star rookie has sat out, the club is 2-1, with wins over Phoenix and Golden State and a close loss to Sacramento.

San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) shoots over Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) during the second half at Frost Bank Center on Monday, March 25, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Suns, 104-102.Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

SALT LAKE CITY –  Monday’s 104-102 win over Phoenix marked the third game in a row the Spurs have played well when they’ve been without rookie star Victor Wembanyama.

With Wembanyama’s status still uncertain, they might get a chance to extend that streak when they play at Utah on Wednesday night.

The Spurs downgraded Wembanyama from questionable to out following their morning shootaround Monday because of a sprained left ankle. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich doesn’t consider the injury to be long term, but he said it’s a “little better than 50-50” Wembanyama will play against the Jazz.

The Spurs’ next game after Utah is Friday at home against New York.

“He tweaked it sometime during (Saturday’s game) and kept playing, and it bothered him afterward,” Popovich said.

The Spurs are 2-7 in games Wembanyama has missed, but they’ve won their last two without him – over the Suns on Monday and at Golden State on March 9 – and nearly won a third when they lost by just two points at Sacramento on March 7.

“He’s a key piece and that makes us (understand) we need to be more connected if we are missing him,” forward Jeremy Sochan said. “We got to do the stuff he does, whether that’s defense, rebounding, making it difficult for people to score in the paint. We have got to help each other more.”

Center Zach Collins said a factor in the Spurs playing well of late without Wembanyama is the familiarity the remaining members of the roster have with each other.

“It’s pretty much the same team from last year minus a couple of guys,” Collins said. “We are definitely used to it, and the formula is the same: Move the ball side to side, pass, get to a better shot than the one you have now, and play defense.”

Sochan did more than his part against the Suns with 26 points and a career-high 18 rebounds as the Spurs avenged Saturday’s 131-106 loss to Phoenix. The Spurs (16-56) won three of their four meetings with the playoff-contending Suns (42-30) this season.

“With Victor out, we are missing a lot of rebounding, so for (Sochan) to come in and dominate the boards like that, it’s great,” Collins said. “And usually he is going to have a small guy on him. He is big for his position, so he can take advantage of that, and he did tonight.”

The Spurs also got a strong effort from Collins, who replaced Wembanyama in the starting lineup and finished with 18 points on 7 of 14 from the field.

“I always embrace whatever role the team gives me, but you want to be a starter, you want to play as many minutes as you can, so it was a lot of fun,” said Collins, who started the season’s first 20 games before Popovich benched him to slide Wembanyama from forward to center.

“He gives everything he can,” Popovich said of Collins. “He’s aggressive. He tries to be rugged out there. He did some really good things down the stretch. A lot of people played well tonight, and that’s what it takes.”

Vassell bounces back in fine fashion

After struggling Saturday in the blowout loss, Spurs guard Devin Vassell rebounded with one of his best all-around games of the season Monday.

The team’s second-leading scorer finished with 26 points and seven assists without a turnover after ending with just two points and three assists Saturday. He also had three steals in the rematch.

But it was his scoring that mattered most.

“He’s been putting them up all year,” Popovich said. “You don’t go by one game. He’s been unbelievably aggressive and confident the entire year. So, it doesn’t matter what he did last game or this game. He’s been doing it pretty steadily. Nobody’s perfect every night.”

Sochan ready to help Poland at Olympic qualifying

Sochan confirmed he will play for the Polish national team at the 2024 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament July 2-7 at Valencia, Spain.

“I want to play in the Olympics,” said Sochan, whose mother is Polish. “I feel like we have a really good chance. I have played in every game this season, knock on wood, and I want to finish it and then be ready for Valencia. I am excited.”