The Portland Trail Blazers sit at 8-16 and are looking to snap a four-game losing streak as they face the San Antonio Spurs, who are now 12-12 on the season. Portland has lost by an average margin of 19.75 points in the past four games. The fact that the Blazers are losing games by so much while missing key defensive pieces -- Donovan Clingan, Robert Williams III, and Matisse Thybulle -- highlights the importance of said players.
The good news is that the Blazers received a long break, which gave their injured players time to recover. They played their last game on Dec. 8 in their 107-98 loss to the Lakers without LeBron James.
Losing games to teams down a superstar has unfortunately become a trending pattern for Portland, as they were blown out by the Jazz without Lauri Markkanen 141-99 in the previous game. In between Utah's convincing win over Portland, the Jazz lost 133-106 to the Thunder and, most recently, 141-97 to the Kings, emphasizing how far away the Blazers are from being legitimate threats in the West.
Blazers injury report vs. Spurs on Friday, December 13
Here is the Blazers' injury report, which is much more encouraging than their past few games:
- Matisse Thybulle: Out (right ankle sprain)
- Duop Reath: Available (back strain)
- Deandre Ayton: Out (illness)
- Donovan Clingan: Available (left knee sprain)
- Robert Williams III: Out (reconditioning)
Update: Ayton and Williams are ruled out. Reath and Clingan are good to go, but the latter will be on a minutes restriction.
The Blazers will need all the size they can get to help try and contain the Spurs' 7-foot-3 alien. There's optimism surrounding Clingan's return as Sean Highkin of Rip City Radio 620 reported that Clingan practiced fully on Thursday. Highkin also notes that Williams practiced fully [subscription required] but needs to clear "one final computer-based test from the team's medical staff," so his status remains uncertain.
San Antonio Spurs injury report
Here is San Antonio's injury report:
- Stephon Castle: Out (left shoulder contusion)
- Zach Collins: Out (back contusion)
- Keldon Johnson: Out (left calf strain)
- Tre Jones: Out (left shoulder strain)
The Spurs also have two-way G League players ruled out, including David Duke Jr., Harrison Ingram, and Riley Minix.
Projected starting lineups for Blazers vs. Spurs
Trail Blazers starting lineup
Here is Chauncey Billups' projected starting five with Ayton now out:
- PG: Anfernee Simons
- SG: Shaedon Sharpe
- SF: Toumani Camara
- PF: Jerami Grant
- C: Jabari Walker
Update: With Ayton ruled out and Clingan on a minutes restriction, Jabari Walker will get the start.
Spurs starting lineup
Here is the Spurs' projected starting lineup:
- PG: Chris Paul
- SG: Julian Champagnie
- SF: Harrison Barnes
- PF: Jeremy Sochan
- C: Victor Wembanyama
The Blazers have had offensive challenges against elite shot blockers like Walker Kessler and Anthony Davis. They'll have their work cut out for them going up against a future Defensive Player of the Year, Victor Wembanyama.
Defensively, it's encouraging that they will likely have more size to help deal with Wemby. Although Ayton is questionable with an illness, both Clingan and Williams are trending in positive directions. With three of their four centers out, Billups has been forced to bring Jabari Walker and Avdija off the bench to spell Ayton at center. Both forwards are undersized at the center position, which has been a defensive liability for Portland in the past few games.
This article will be updated as we receive more information closer to the matchup. But the fact that only Thybulle is immediately ruled out heading into it is a great sign for Portland.