Sun Jan 04 00:10:00 UTC 2026: Here’s a news article summarizing the text, along with a brief summary:

Summary:

The Portland Trail Blazers are set to face the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday. The Spurs, despite being a strong team with a good December record, will be without star rookie Victor Wembanyama due to a knee injury. The Blazers, coming off a win against the New Orleans Pelicans, will try to capitalize on Wembanyama’s absence, especially after losing to San Antonio earlier this season when he was also out. Key players are injured on both sides, and the game offers a chance for the Blazers to improve their standing.

News Article:

Blazers Face Spurs Sans Wembanyama, Look to Capitalize on Opportunity

San Antonio, TX – The Portland Trail Blazers visit the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday evening, hoping to leverage the absence of Spurs’ rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama to secure a crucial victory. Wembanyama, sidelined due to a hyperextended knee, also missed last night’s game against the Indiana Pacers.

The Spurs are coming off a strong December, where they won eight consecutive games and defeated league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite the challenges of facing a formidable San Antonio squad, the Blazers will be hoping for a Spurs’ defense less stingy than their distribution of tickets to Friday blood donors.

This will be the second of three matchups between the two teams this season. The Spurs defeated the Blazers 115-102 in an NBA Cup game on November 25th without Wembanyama, led by De’Aaron Fox (37 points) and Devin Vassell (23 points). However, Vassell is also out for the Spurs.

Portland (15-20) is coming off a 122-109 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. The team will need strong performances to overcome a lengthy injury list, which includes Scoot Henderson, Jrue Holiday, Damian Lillard, and Matisse Thybulle, Blake Wesley. Harrison Ingram is day-to-day for the Spurs.

The game tips off at 5 PM Pacific time and will be available on Rip City Television Network, BlazerVision (Oregon and Washington), and League Pass.

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