PREVIEW: The second-seeded San Antonio Spurs face the seventh-seeded Portland Trail Blazers in this first-round playoff matchup , with the Spurs holding a 2-1 series lead. Victor Wembanyama is available for the Spurs after missing time with a rib injury and is not listed on the injury report , giving San Antonio a formidable advantage on both ends of the floor. The Spurs' defensive prowess stands out sharply in the data, as they rank second in limiting rim attempts and sixth in defending three-point shooting by allowing low-quality looks. Stephon Castle has been dominant in the series, pouring in 33 points in Game 3, with Dylan Harper adding 27 points and 10 rebounds . Portland's resilience despite roster challenges will be tested in this elimination scenario. Jrue Holiday has led the Blazers with 29 points, while Deni Avdija contributed 19 in recent action , but their team's significant weaknesses loom large in the analytics—they rank 27th in attacking the rim and dead last in three-point shooting efficiency and turnover management. The Blazers' defensive identity has shown promise lately, allowing some of the fewest made threes in the league, yet they remain extremely vulnerable on the glass and in transition situations. Portland finished strong in the regular season at 20-12 over their final 32 games , suggesting they have the ability to compete despite the odds stacked against them in this series.