Victor Wembanyama Ruled Out For Game 3: What It Means For Blazers

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama won't play against the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 3. Here's how that changes the game plan.

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama looks to pass against Portland Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday. | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

The Portland Trail Blazers face a significant tactical shift for Game 3 following the news that Victor Wembanyama is out with a concussion.

Wembanyama suffered the injury in the first half of Game 2 against the Blazers. Portland rallied back to win the contest after trailing by 14 points in the fourth quarter.

Here's a look at what it means for the Blazers:

Luke Kornet Starts, Job Easier For Donovan Clingan

San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet grabs a rebound during the second half. | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

With Wembanyama sidelined, the Spurs lose their primary rim protector and the most unique defensive assignment in the league. For Donovan Clingan, this shifts the matchup from a fight to stay alive against a 7-foot-4 unicorn to a more traditional battle against Luke Kornet.

Kornet is a disciplined positional defender, but he doesn't possess the recovery speed or verticality to erase mistakes like Wembanyama. Clingan can now focus on establishing deep post position and utilizing his size advantage on the offensive glass without the constant threat of a weak-side block coming from the rafters.

Paint Clears Up For Blazers

Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson reacts after scoring a three point basket. | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

Wembanyama's absence fundamentally changes the geometry of the court for Portland’s slashers. This opens up clear driving lanes for Portland's guards to attack the cup with aggression.

With Wembanyama out, perimeter defenders like Jrue Holiday and Toumani Camara can play even more aggressively on the ball, knowing they don't have to worry about a 7-4 eraser waiting to negate their defensive pressure at the rim.

Without the Spurs' defensive anchor, Portland should look to increase their points in the paint targets significantly, specifically targeting Kornet and the Spurs' second-unit bigs in pick-and-roll actions to force defensive rotations that San Antonio is less equipped to handle.

Blazers Game 3 Becomes Must-Win

Portland Trail Blazers acting head coach Tiago Splitter against the Phoenix Suns. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

In a playoff series, you are gifted very few tactical advantages for free. Facing a Spurs squad without its franchise cornerstone is a massive window of opportunity that the Blazers cannot afford to waste, especially at the Moda Center.

If Portland fails to capitalize on a Wembanyama-less Spurs lineup, they risk heading into the later stages of the series with the momentum shifted back to a healthy San Antonio squad. Blazers acting head coach Tiago Splitter may have to make some changes, including a smaller lineup, to vibe with the adjustments the Spurs have to make.

Securing a win tonight isn't just about the series lead. It's about validating the defensive adjustments made in Game 2 and proving they can dictate the pace of the series regardless of who is on the floor.

Tip-off between the Spurs and Blazers is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT inside the Moda Center. Fans can stream the game on Amazon Prime Video.