San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers Game 3 Preview, Picks & Odds for Friday, April 24, 2026

By Braxton Reynolds | Apr 23, 2026, 7:53pm

Game 3 between the San Antonio Spurs (1-1) and Portland Trail Blazers (1-1) is set for 10:30 p.m. Eastern on Amazon Prime. Victor Wembanyama is doubtful to play after suffering a concussion in Game 2, but it’s an encouraging sign that he’s traveling with the team to Portland according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. This indicates that Wembanyama likely returns by Game 4.

Spurs vs. Trail Blazers Betting Analysis

Although Wembanyama obviously elevates the Spurs on both sides of the ball, San Antonio outscored Portland by four points across 37 minutes without him in Game 2. The roster is still strong enough to beat the Blazers in Game 3 even if Wembanyama is out.

De’Aaron Fox averaged around 25 points and six assists per game during his final few years on the Kings – San Antonio needs this version of Fox in Game 3. His speed and quickness while operating as the lead ball handler are crucial to bypassing Portland’s physical defense.

It’s also a big test for offseason acquisition Luke Kornet. He thrived as a backup big this season due to his rim protection, rebounding, and passing, but can Kornet scale up to 32+ minutes against Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III? If not, then Deni Avdija and Portland’s bigs will have a field day inside the paint.

Meanwhile, Scoot Henderson is the biggest story of this series so far. The former third overall pick had a rough first two years in the NBA, and he only played 30 games this season due to injuries. But Henderson has shown his potential against San Antonio, as he’s averaging 24.5 points per game on 77.7% true shooting and getting to his spots.

When asked about his mindset entering Game 2 and what he learned from Game 1, Henderson said the following during his post-game interview: “The adjustment that I made was to just play faster and shoot the open ones. I think that opens up the floor for everybody else and opens up the floor for [Deni Avdija] to attack.” Henderson playing like a top-three pick completely changes the complexion of this series.

The best bet is taking Portland to win the game. It will be difficult for the Spurs’ defense to prevent paint touches, especially if Henderson continues to wreak havoc. On the other end, San Antonio knocking down triples is a must, and the team frequently struggles to generate great looks from beyond the arc without Wembanyama’s interior gravity. Factor in home-court advantage, and look for the Blazers to take Game 3.

Spurs vs. Trail Blazers Best Bet, Pick & Prediction

Best Bet: Trail Blazers ML (+110)
Score Prediction: Trail Blazers 105, Spurs 102

Spurs vs. Trail Blazers Game Odds

Spurs vs. Trail Blazers Game Information

Date: Friday, April 24, 2026
Time: 10:40 p.m. ET
Network: APVO
Location: Portland, Oregon
Venue: Moda Center – 233 ppg; 25-16 O/U
Series Score: Tied 1-1

Spurs vs. Trail Blazers Betting Resources

Spurs vs. Trail Blazers Key Players

Spurs

Victor Wembanyama – Last Game: 5 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist
De’Aaron Fox – Last Game: 17 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists
Stephon Castle – Last Game: 18 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists

Trail Blazers

Deni Avdija – Last Game: 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
Jrue Holiday – Last Game: 16 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists
Scoot Henderson – Last Game: 31 points, 1 rebound, 0 assists

Braxton Reynolds

Braxton has been covering the NBA for Lineups since the 2022 season. He's worked with multiple collegiate coaching staffs regarding analytics and scouting, which has allowed him to understand the game on a deeper level. Braxton also currently writes about the Oklahoma City Thunder for Thunder Roundtable.