Spurs promote Blake Wesley and Dominick Barlow as injuries decimate their rotation

The San Antonio Spurs have announced that Tre Jones (foot) and Jeremy Sochan (back) will miss tonight's matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers, leaving head coach Gregg Popovich without two-fifths of his starting unit.

With Jones and Sochan joining Devin Vassell (knee) and Romeo Langford (adductor) on the injury report, the team has promoted rookies Dominick Barlow and Blake Wesley from the Austin Spurs to the big league club for added depth insurance.

While the 19-year-olds have only suited up for a combined 12 games and 102 minutes in the NBA through the first half of the season, San Antonio's shorthanded roster could provide them a golden opportunity to show the coaching staff they deserve an extended stint in the 2-1-0.

Both teenage prospects are coming off impressive performances with the G League affiliate on Thursday night, putting their scoring potential on full display in a nail-biting loss that ended on a last-second turnaround prayer from Robert Woodard II after Wesley forced a jump ball.

Wesley scored a team-high 29 points on 11-of-18 shooting from the field, cashing in on three triples and burning defenders with his smoldering first step as he got downhill and attacked the rim on command.

Barlow notched his first double-double of the month, filling the stat sheet with 21 points, ten rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block. He also drained two three-balls for the third consecutive contest.

San Antonio has been transparent about this being a developmental year, so is there a better time to throw the rookies into the heat of competition and let them sink or swim? At the very least, perhaps Welsey and Barlow can offer the Spurs some much-needed ball handling and floor spacing.

The game tips off tonight at 7:00 PM CST. You can catch all the action on Bally Sports Southwest or NBA League Pass.