Recreation Two of the San Antonio Spurs’ first-round playoff collection in opposition to the Portland Path Blazers went about as poorly because it may go. Not solely did the workforce lose at residence, surrendering home-court benefit, however additionally they misplaced their famous person massive man, Victor Wembanyama, to a concussion. Now, Wembanyama’s standing turns into the large query for Recreation Three.
Wembanyama traveled with the workforce to Portland and is listed as questionable for Recreation Three. There’s a likelihood he can play, however being simply 72 hours faraway from the preliminary incident, it is going to be a protracted shot for him to go the league’s concussion protocols and go well with up on Friday night time.
If Wembanyama is out, the Spurs will depend on Luke Kornet as their beginning middle. They’ll look to the remainder of the supporting solid to switch Wemby’s scoring in many of the workforce’s first playoff expertise in hostile territory. San Antonio received its solely recreation in Portland this season, 115-102. De’Aaron Fox scored 37 factors in that recreation, and Kornet held down the paint with 3 blocks. That recreation could possibly be the proper blueprint for stealing a recreation on the street and re-taking a 2-1 lead within the collection.
April twenty fourth, 2026 | 9:30 PM CT
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Spurs Accidents: Jordan McLaughlin – Out (ankle), Victor Wembanyama – Questionable (concussion protocol)
Path Blazers Accidents: Damian Lillard – Out (achilles)
Congratulations, Carter Bryant! You’re the Spurs’ de facto backup massive man! When Wembanyama went down, Mitch Johnson went to Bryant because the backup middle when Kornet wanted a spell. The outcomes had been blended. Bryant performs with wonderful vitality and made some successful performs on the offensive finish. Nonetheless, the Blazers attacked the basket with much more drive when Bryant was taking part in the 5. He was -14 in his 12 minutes. He merely lacks the scale to play massive minutes at middle. Assuming Wembanyama is out, Bryant will most likely have to play backup middle once more. The Spurs might want to hope the benefits he creates offensively outweigh the issues his lack of measurement makes defensively.
Or, Johnson could have to go to his massive man depth for at the very least a couple of minutes whereas Kornet sits. Mason Plumlee looks like the probably candidate to get spot minutes. He was largely ineffective within the common season, however at this level, the Spurs might have one other massive physique. All Plumlee must do is seize rebounds and maintain his personal in opposition to Robert Williams III and Donovan Clingan in brief spurts to assist San Antonio stand up to the non-Kornet minutes.
It has not been one of the best begin to the collection for the Spurs’ guards. Fox has performed one of the best out of the three, however went ice-cold within the fourth quarter of Recreation Two when San Antonio wanted him probably the most. Stephon Citadel has been wildly inefficient, going 11-33 from the sector within the first two video games. Issues appeared to click on for Dylan Harper in Recreation Two, however he has made some rookie errors as nicely. San Antonio will want all three of them to play on the prime of their video games to beat Portland on the street.
Fox ought to have the ball in his arms continuously. He’s been nice when Wembanyama doesn’t go well with up this season. There isn’t a motive to doubt his skill to rise to the event on Friday. Citadel is required in a significant manner on each ends. Whether or not it’s slowing down Scoot Henderson and Deni Avdija on protection or scoring effectively across the rim, San Antonio wants Citadel to get again on monitor. Harper generally is a spark plug for a Spurs’ bench unit that has lacked some punch within the collection to this point. Both he or Keldon Johnson wants so as to add some scoring off the bench.
One of many greatest variations from Recreation One to Recreation Two was the Spurs’ three-point capturing. San Antonio shot 15-33 (45%) in Recreation One, and 7-24 (29%) in Recreation Two. Portland has shot under 35% in each video games and was twenty eighth in three-point proportion within the common season. If San Antonio continues to play robust perimeter protection, they’ll maintain Portland at bay from deep. They should hit their threes, particularly whereas the Blazers have been so efficient at defending the paint.
San Antonio may use some sizzling capturing from its greatest shooters. Julian Champagnie has been environment friendly on low quantity, hitting 4 of his 6 makes an attempt from three in two video games. Devin Vassell went 0-5 from deep in Recreation Two’s loss. Harrison Barnes has but to hit a three-pointer within the collection. One or a number of of those three will have to be a risk from outdoors in what’s going to probably be a really robust Recreation Three.
