Is Victor Wembanyama playing tonight vs the Portland Trail Blazers? Latest update on the San Antonio Spurs star's injury report (January 3, 2026)

Victor Wembanyama will not play when the San Antonio Spurs face the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night. The team ruled him out for the January 3, 2026 game because of soreness in his left knee following a recent hyperextension.The decision is about caution. The Spurs are early in a long season and chose rest after medical tests showed no serious damage. While San Antonio has already won games without him, his absence still changes how the team plays on both ends of the floor.

What happened to Victor Wembanyama’s knee

Victor Wembanyama was injured late in the fourth quarter of the Spurs’ January 1 win over the New York Knicks. He landed awkwardly after grabbing a rebound and briefly hyperextended his left knee.

He returned to the bench and even went through warmups, which suggested the injury was not severe.

An MRI done on January 2 confirmed there was no ligament damage. Despite that, the medical staff decided to sit him out, especially with a back-to-back on the schedule. Wembanyama said after the game that he felt close to playing but accepted the team’s decision.

San Antonio Spurs vs Potland Trail Blazers game setting (January 3, 2026)

San Antonio Spurs host the Portland Trail Blazers at Frost Bank Center, with tip-off set for 7:00 PM CT (8:00 PM ET).

The Spurs come in at 25-9, second in the Western Conference. Portland is 15-20 and currently 10th in the West.The Spurs are coming off a 123-113 win over Indiana on January 2, also without Wembanyama. That result showed the team can manage games without its star, but the margin is thinner.

How San Antonio Spurs adjust without Victor Wembanyama

Without Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs lose their main rim protector and most reliable inside scorer. He finished the Knicks game with 31 points and 13 rebounds in only 24 minutes, a reminder of how much he impacts games even in short stretches.In his absence, San Antonio relies more on ball movement and perimeter scoring. Devin Vassell takes on a larger role, while frontcourt minutes are split among players like Luke Kornet and Kelly Olynyk. The defense also shifts, with less shot-blocking at the rim.This will be Victor Wembanyama’s 14th missed game of the season, which brings attention to the 65-game threshold for awards. For the Spurs, that is secondary to keeping him healthy.Also read: San Antonio Spurs vs Portland Trail Blazers regular season game: Full injury report, who's out, where to watch, and more (January 3, 2026)He is listed as day-to-day, with his next chance to return coming Tuesday, January 6, against the Memphis Grizzlies. With no structural damage found and his 22nd birthday on January 4, the expectation is that his absence will be short.