Spurs Announce Starting Lineup Vs. Blazers After Victor Wembanyama News

San Antonio will be without their star rookie against Portland due to a rib injury.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 1:03am

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting the dynamic motion and energy of a basketball game, with the players' figures broken down into abstract shapes and forms.A cubist interpretation of the Spurs and Blazers battling on the court, with Wembanyama's injury absence adding an air of uncertainty to the matchup.San Antonio Today

The San Antonio Spurs have announced their starting lineup and injury report for their upcoming game against the Portland Trail Blazers. The big news is that star rookie Victor Wembanyama will miss the game due to a rib injury suffered in the team's previous matchup. The Spurs' starting five for the game will be De'Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, Julian Champagnie, Devin Vassell, and Luke Kornet. In addition to Wembanyama, the Spurs will also be without Stephon Castle due to right knee soreness.

Why it matters

Wembanyama's injury is a concern for the Spurs, as he needs to play in at least one more game this season to qualify for end-of-season awards like MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, which he is a top candidate for. The Spurs are currently second in the Western Conference standings and will be looking to secure their playoff positioning, even without their star rookie.

The details

The Spurs announced their starting lineup for the game against the Trail Blazers, which includes De'Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, Julian Champagnie, Devin Vassell, and Luke Kornet. This is not the typical starting lineup the team has used this season, but with the injuries to Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, it's the group they'll have to go with. Wembanyama suffered a rib injury in the team's previous game against the Philadelphia 76ers, and while it's not considered a serious issue, he has been ruled out for the matchup with Portland. The Spurs are confident Wembanyama will be able to play in at least one of the team's final two regular-season games in order to qualify for end-of-season awards.

  • Wembanyama suffered the rib injury in the Spurs' previous game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
  • The Spurs vs. Trail Blazers game is scheduled for Wednesday, April 8, at 8:30 pm CST on ESPN.
  • The Spurs have two games remaining in the regular season after the matchup with Portland.

The players

Victor Wembanyama

The Spurs' star rookie who is a top candidate for MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, but will miss the game against the Trail Blazers due to a rib injury.

Stephon Castle

The Spurs' second-year guard who is also ruled out for the game against Portland due to right knee soreness.

De'Aaron Fox

The Spurs' starting point guard for the game against the Trail Blazers.

Dylan Harper

The Spurs' starting shooting guard for the game, who hasn't been a typical starter this season.

Julian Champagnie

The Spurs' starting small forward for the game against Portland.

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What they’re saying

“There's confidence that Victor Wembanyama will be able to play at least one of these final two games as soon as Friday. Right now, he is day to day... he needs to play at least 20 minutes in one more game, and the Spurs are very confident that he'll be able to do so.”

— Shams Charania, NBA Insider

What’s next

The Spurs will look to secure their playoff positioning without Wembanyama in the lineup against the Trail Blazers. The team is confident he will be able to play in at least one of their final two regular-season games in order to qualify for end-of-season awards.

The takeaway

Wembanyama's injury is a concern for the Spurs, as they want to ensure their star rookie is healthy and able to play in at least one more game this season to qualify for prestigious end-of-season awards. However, the team has depth and will look to their other starters to step up in Wembanyama's absence as they continue their push for a high playoff seed in the Western Conference.