The Portland Trail Blazers are facing off against the San Antonio Spurs in the fourth and final game of the Emirates NBA Cup group stage, which will have huge implications for Portland. Win tonight and the Blazers clinch
their NBA Cup group (West Group C), which given the competition would have seen improbable or impossible at the start of the year.
The Blazers are fresh off of a win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday and are facing a Spurs team down Victor Wembanyama.
The Spurs lost their last game against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday, but had earned three straight wins over the Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies and Atlanta Hawks prior to that dropped game.
What you Need to Know
Portland Trail Blazers (8-10) vs. San Antonio Spurs (11-5) – Wed. Nov 26th – 7pm Pacific
How to watch via antenna or cable: See your options on the Rip City Television Network.
How to watch via streaming: BlazerVision in Oregon and Washington; League Pass or NBA TV everywhere else.
Trail Blazers Injuries: Scoot Henderson, Damian Lillard, Matisse Thybulle, Blake Wesley, Jrue Holiday (Out); Shaedon Sharpe (Questionable)
Spurs Injuries: Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, Jordan McLaughlin (Out)
What to Watch For
NBA Cup Implications. The Blazers currently sit first in West Group C with a 2-1 record. Due to tie breakers and no team remaining undefeated, the Blazers will secure themselves a place in the Emirates NBA Cup knockout round with a win. The Spurs are currently 1-1 and have a game coming up against the Denver Nuggets. If they are able to win both, they will represent West Group C instead.
Offensive Rebounds vs Making The First Shot. Portland ranks in the bottom five in both field goal percentage, 44.6%, and three-point percentage, 32.7%. On the other side, the Spurs make 49.4% of their field goals, good for 4th in the NBA and are a perfectly average shooting team from deep with their 36.1% shooting, putting them in a tie for 15th in the NBA. However, where the Blazers are able to make up that difference is with their offensive rebounding. Portland grabs 15.6 per game, putting them second in the NBA with that total. With Victor Wembanyama sidelined for this contest, Portland’s big man rotation of Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III should give them a massive advantage on the offensive glass.
What Others are Saying
Cal Durrett of Air Alamo talks about the play of De’Aaron Fox and how the guard has found his rhythm while helping San Antonio weather their injuries.
However, a big silver lining of Wembanyama missing a couple of weeks is that it gives Fox a chance to become the focal point of the offense. He’s clearly looking to balance being a scorer with also being a distributor who doesn’t disrupt the flow of the offense.
So far, so good. He’s done a terrific job knowing when to create for others and when to get buckets. It’s saving the Spurs as they work to get Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper healthy.
