Trail Blazers Shorthanded vs Spurs

Sharpe and Grant among key players out for Portland

Apr. 8, 2026 at 6:34pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting depicting a basketball game between two teams, with the players' figures reduced to abstract geometric shapes in the team's colors, the court and arena fading into the background.An abstract, cubist-inspired illustration captures the tension and energy of a crucial Western Conference matchup between the shorthanded Portland Trail Blazers and the San Antonio Spurs.Denver Today

The Portland Trail Blazers will be without several key players, including Shaedon Sharpe and Jerami Grant, when they take on the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night. The Blazers are coming off an overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets and will be looking to bounce back despite their injury issues.

Why it matters

The Trail Blazers are fighting for playoff positioning in the Western Conference, so any absences of star players like Sharpe and Grant could significantly impact their chances of securing a postseason berth. The Spurs, meanwhile, are also jockeying for position in the West, so this matchup has important implications for the playoff race.

The details

Shaedon Sharpe, the Blazers' promising young guard, and veteran forward Jerami Grant will both miss Wednesday's game against the Spurs due to injuries. Sharpe is dealing with a knee issue, while Grant is out with a hamstring strain. Other key Blazers players like Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons are expected to play, but the team will be shorthanded against San Antonio.

  • The Trail Blazers lost to the Denver Nuggets in overtime on Monday, April 6, 2026.
  • The Blazers will face the Spurs on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.

The players

Shaedon Sharpe

A promising young guard for the Portland Trail Blazers who is sidelined with a knee injury.

Jerami Grant

A veteran forward for the Portland Trail Blazers who is out with a hamstring strain.

Damian Lillard

The star point guard for the Portland Trail Blazers who is expected to play against the Spurs.

Anfernee Simons

A key player for the Portland Trail Blazers who is also expected to suit up against San Antonio.

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What’s next

The Trail Blazers will look to bounce back from their overtime loss to the Nuggets when they take on the Spurs on Wednesday. A win would be crucial for Portland's playoff hopes in the tight Western Conference race.

The takeaway

The Trail Blazers' injury issues, particularly the absences of Shaedon Sharpe and Jerami Grant, will make it challenging for them to defeat the Spurs on the road. However, if Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons can step up, Portland still has a chance to come away with a much-needed victory.