NBA Cup action resumes on Wednesday night, as the Portland Trail Blazers host the San Antonio Spurs at the Moda Center.
The Spurs (11–5, 1–1 NBA Cup) have won three of four games since superstar Victor Wembanyama went down with a calf strain and look to rebound from a Sunday road loss to the Phoenix Suns. The Blazers (8–10, 2–1 NBA Cup), meanwhile, have won two of their last three and aim to build off a Monday road win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Here’s a look at the Injury Report:
San Antonio Spurs
- Out: Victor Wembanyama (calf), Stephon Castle (hip), Jordan McLaughlin (hamstring)
- Questionable: Dylan Harper (calf)
Portland Trail Blazers
- Out: Scoot Henderson (hamstring), Jrue Holiday (calf), Damian Lillard (Achilles), Matisse Thybulle (thumb), Blake Wesley (foot)
Tipoff is set for 10 p.m. ET. The Blazers enter as slight 1.5-point home favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, while the Spurs are listed at -105 on the moneyline. The game’s total is set at 240.5 points.
Spurs vs. Trail Blazers Preview
San Antonio Spurs Preview
The Spurs have continued to weather the storm without their anchor, Victor Wembanyama, who has missed the last four games to nurse a calf strain. Before their Monday loss in Phoenix, the Spurs rattled off three-straight victories against the Kings, Grizzlies, and Hawks by a combined differential of 32 points.
San Antonio combines both a top-ten offense and defense to produce an impressive seventh-ranked net rating. The Spurs shoot the fourth-highest field-goal percentage in basketball, with guard De’Aaron Fox leading the charge with 23.5 points and 6.1 assists per game. Still, injuries have hit this team hard — and they’re nowhere near peak form without Wembanyama or Stephon Castle, who leads the team with 7.5 assists a game.
On the other end, the Spurs hold teams to the fourth-fewest points per game on the fifth-lowest field goal percentage. Still, San Antonio has struggled to defend the perimeter, allowing teams to shoot nearly 40% from deep — the third highest mark in the NBA. Even so, the Spurs do a solid job of limiting second-chance opportunities, shutting down fast breaks, and locking down the paint.
Portland Trail Blazers Preview
Much of Portland’s optimism lies ahead for next season, as Damian Lillard will make his long-awaited return to the franchise once he recovers from his torn Achilles tendon. In the meantime, the Trail Blazers are playing at around the same level as last season.
Portland ranks near the bottom third of the league in offensive (18th), defensive (20th), and net rating (18th). While the Blazers are nearly top-ten in scoring, they’re disastrously inefficient — ranking 26th in field-goal percentage and 27th in three-point percentage, while coughing up the third-most turnovers in the league. However, the Blazers have been rewarded through their tenacity on the glass, ranking second in offensive rebounds and second-chance points.
On defense, Portland allows the seventh-most points per game, with opponents shooting a highly efficient 48.7% from the floor and 36.9% from deep. Their defensive woes are exacerbated by their turnover problems, as they’re frequently dusted in transition.
With so many players on the sidelines, the Blazers will lean on leading scorers Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe, who average 24.9 and 22.6 points per game, respectively. Meanwhile, second-year big man Donovan Clingan has taken a massive sophomore leap, averaging 10.3 points, while leading the team with 9.9 boards and 1.6 blocks a night.
Spurs vs. Trail Blazers Pick, Best Bet
The Trail Blazers thrive when they can dominate the offensive boards and rack up second-chance points — but the Spurs are one of the league’s best teams when it comes to thwarting such opportunities. Count on the Spurs to control the boards like they’ve done all season, and for them to roll over the understaffed Blazers on Wednesday night.
