Victor Wembanyama could miss a while after a rib damage scare within the San Antonio Spurs 115-102 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Stories point out Wembanyama’s damage isn’t critical, and he’ll possible swimsuit up for the one required recreation he has to play to qualify for end-of-season awards. Nonetheless, he’ll possible miss the Spurs’ closing matchup towards the Portland Path Blazers this season, as he’s listed as uncertain. Stephon Citadel joins him on the damage report with the identical designation.
This would be the rubber match between Portland and San Antonio, because the sequence is tied 1-1. The Blazers defeated the Spurs of their final matchup, 115-110, a recreation through which Wembanyama additionally sat out, and Luke Kornet led the group with 23 factors. Portland is preventing onerous for its playoff positioning, as they sit only a half-game again of the Los Angeles Clippers for eighth within the Western Convention. This recreation might influence who the Spurs play within the first spherical and could possibly be a preview of a possible playoff sequence.
April eighth, 2026 | 8:30 PM CT
Watch: ESPN | Hear: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Accidents: Stephon Citadel – Uncertain (knee), Victor Wembanyama – Uncertain (rib), Harrison Ingram – Questionable (G League), David Jones-Garcia – Out (ankle), Emanuel Miller – Questionable (G League)
Path Blazers Accidents: Jerami Grant – Out (calf), Vit Krejci – Uncertain (calf), Damian Lillard – Out (achilles), Shaedon Sharpe – Uncertain (fibula)
Grabbing defensive rebounds
The Blazers are superior offensive rebounders. If Wembanyama is a Godzilla-type determine, then Donovan Clingan is his King Kong (or Cling Kong) counterpart. The Portland massive man leads the league in offensive rebounds with 4.5 a recreation. With out Wembanyama, Kornet might be counted on to maintain Clingan off the glass. It’ll must be a group effort on the boards, although. The Blazers are 2nd within the NBA with 14.1 offensive rebounds per recreation. Permitting second-chance factors will crush the Spurs’ probabilities of successful.
The Spurs typically go to a small-ball second unit when Wembanyama sits. Carter Bryant has surprisingly been the group’s greatest third heart on the roster this 12 months. Towards larger groups, that lack of dimension can generally come again to chunk San Antonio. Towards Portland, nonetheless, it might work to their benefit. Robert Williams III is a stout, athletic defender, however not a lot of an offensive risk. Bryant ought to be capable to deal with him on the defensive finish. On offense, the Spurs can have extra ball-handlers and flooring spacers to reap the benefits of a Portland protection that already permits 116.1 factors per recreation. This can be the one recreation the Spurs’ small-ball lineup might find yourself a net-positive.
With Citadel doubtlessly resting this recreation, Harper ought to get a shot within the beginning unit. In his two video games as a starter, Harper averaged 17 factors, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. He’s been taking part in some glorious basketball these days, capturing the ball successfully, scoring across the rim, and taking part in robust protection on the perimeter. He’ll have his work reduce out for him towards robust perimeter defenders like Toumani Camara and Jrue Vacation, however an enormous recreation within the beginning 5 could possibly be precisely what Harper must hit the bottom operating into the playoffs.
