Western Conference First Round: How to Watch Spurs vs. Trail Blazers Game 1

Leading Portland's offensive charge is Deni Avdija, who — through three games against the Spurs — has averaged 31.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and eight assists on 55 percent shooting from the field and 53 percent shooting from 3. He also thrives with pace.

In that sense, the key to slowing him down, for the Spurs, will be literally slowing him down.

“He’s obviously the head of the snake for them," Stephon Castle said after shootaround on Friday, citing Avdija's offensive prowess. "He’ll be a focal point for us.”

The Trail Blazers, meanwhile, are preparing to face Victor Wembanyama. A calf strain, hyperextended knee and rib contusion made sure Sunday's game will be their first look.

Wembanyama's 25 points per game this season paired with 3.1 blocks as the NBA's two-time reigning blocks leader forces opposing offenses to adjust their strategy. Smaller, more physical attempts to stifle his production have worked best, as Phoenix showed early in the season, but placing focus on him opens the court elsewhere.

“There’s different things we can do, of course,” Portland's acting coach Tiago Splitter, a former Spur, said. “He presents some difficulties ... (but) we have different cards to play with. We can go small, we can go double big, we can do different things on the court.”

However Portland plans to stop Wembanyama, it will need to remain conscious of the rest of the Spurs' offensive weapons — all of which are healthy.

Dylan Harper, who had been dealing with a left thumb injury to close the regular season, brushed off any notion that it was affecting his jump shot. Wembanyama, meanwhile, said he used the week off the return to regular-season form.

On the Trail Blazers' side, only Damian Lillard, as he's been all year, will sit out with a torn Achilles. His teammates are preparing for the rowdy city of San Antonio all the same.

“It’s going to be a good atmosphere," Avdija said inside an empty Frost Bank Center Sunday morning. "That’s what we like as players. It makes it a better game."

Here's everything you need to know about how to watch the matchup:

WHO:

• #7 Portland Trail Blazers (0-0)
• #2 San Antonio Spurs (0-0)

WHEN:

• Sunday, April 19 (Tipoff 8 p.m. Central)

WHERE:

• Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, Texas

HOW TO WATCH:

• NBC, Peacock

INJURY REPORT:

POR:

• Damian Lillard (Achilles) - OUT

SAS:

• Jordan McLaughlin (ankle) - OUT