Are Victor Wembanyama, Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray and Jordan Poole Playing Tonight?

The status of Victor Wembanyama, Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray and Jordan Poole is in focus as the San Antonio Spurs face the New Orleans Pelicans on December 9, 2025. Both teams enter the matchup short-handed, and fans are looking for clarity on which stars will be available.

San Antonio has been without Wembanyama for 10 consecutive games due to a calf strain suffered on November 14. The Pelicans continue to miss multiple key players, creating a major imbalance in the matchup.

Updated Injury Details for All Four Stars

Victor Wembanyama has been ruled out for tonight’s game. He recently returned to practice as a full participant, but the Spurs are not yet ready to clear him for game action. He is tracking toward a possible return during the upcoming road stretch, with December 17 viewed as a more realistic target.

Zion Williamson will also miss the game. He is recovering from a grade 2 right hip adductor strain and is expected to remain sidelined for several more weeks. His absence continues to place a heavy burden on New Orleans’ offense and frontcourt depth.

Dejounte Murray will not play tonight. He remains out as he works through his ongoing injury recovery. His playmaking and perimeter defense are still missing pieces for New Orleans.

Jordan Poole is out for the Pelicans as well. He continues to recover from a quad issue, leaving New Orleans without one of its primary scoring threats off the bench.

Herb Jones remains listed as questionable, but he is not part of the main four-player headline group. The Spurs, meanwhile, expect to get Stephon Castle and Luke Kornet back, giving them important reinforcements despite Wembanyama remaining unavailable.

How These Absences Shape Tonight’s Matchup

With all four highlighted stars out, the balance shifts strongly toward San Antonio. The Spurs have gone 7–3 without Wembanyama, showing strong continuity and depth across their rotation. Castle’s return adds defensive intensity and playmaking that the Spurs have missed.

The Pelicans remain in a difficult stretch. They enter at 3–21 and have struggled to maintain consistency amid injuries. Losing Williamson, Murray and Poole removes a large portion of their scoring and defensive identity.

San Antonio has already faced New Orleans twice this season and enters this third meeting with momentum. While Wembanyama’s absence is significant, the Spurs have found ways to compete effectively without him. New Orleans continues to rely on its remaining young players to carry the load.

Tonight’s game will highlight depth, development and execution. The four absent stars shape the narrative, but both teams will still look for opportunities to build progress as the season continues.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: Why is Victor Wembanyama out tonight?

He is recovering from a calf strain suffered on November 14. He has returned to full practice but has not yet been cleared to play.

Q2: How long will Zion Williamson be out?

He is dealing with a grade 2 right hip adductor strain. He is expected to miss several more weeks.

Q3: What is Dejounte Murray’s status?

Murray remains out and has not been cleared for game action. His return timeline is still being evaluated.

Q4: Why is Jordan Poole not playing?

Poole continues recovering from a quad injury. He will not play tonight against the Spurs.

Q5: Who is returning for San Antonio?

Stephon Castle and Luke Kornet are expected back in the lineup, giving the Spurs a significant boost.