Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images The Spurs and Blazers prepare to do basketball type things At some point in a lost season, you kind of just run out of words. You never know exactly when it’ll happen, but rest assured that once the games begin to blend together, it just bec omes a matter of time until you sit down, stare at a matchup blankly, try your best to differentiate the teams involved, and come up with a big fat nothing. That doesn’t mean that the words are lost permanently, of course. You’re a writer, dadgum it! This is what you do. It’s just a metaphor for the difference between your fingers flying across your keyboard with ease, and banging out each individual word with a ten-pound hammer. In any case, it’s honestly hard to demarcate teams like the Spurs and Blazers at this point in the year. With only a few games left, they’re separated by just two games in the Western Conference standings. Their net ratings are almost identical. The Spurs are a little better offensively, the Blazers hold an edge defensively. The Spurs are a little better at shooting the ball, the Blazers are a little better at rebounding. The Blazers are a little better at drawing fouls at scoring off of turnovers, the Spurs are better at passing and forcing turnovers. Their pace of play is basically the same, they score at the same rate in the paint and on the fast break. Both teams have been liberal with the rest they’re allowing players as the season closes, with only one win separating their records over the last ten games. It’s anyone’s guess when it comes to who will end up taking the court at tip-off — which team will be more invested in protecting their draft position. Either team could come out blazing, with players on the fringes of the roster doing their best to audition and justify further investment. Both teams could come out in a farcical agreement to compete, as each does their level best to avoid committing to victory while looking invested, like broke teenagers window-shopping in an outlet mall. Maybe they’ll all have that expression you see on the faces of high school seniors at this time of year. Honestly, I wouldn’t blame them. I can definitely relate. San Antonio Spurs at Portland Trail Blazers April 6th, 2025 | 5:00 CT Watch: FanDuel Sports Network Southwest | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM) Spurs Injuries: Victor Wembanyama - Out (Regenerating Kaiju), DeAaron Fox - Out (Hand), Jeremy Sochan - Day-to-Day (Back) Trail Blazers Injuries: Robert Williams - Out (Knee), Bryce McGowens - Out (Ribs), Deandre Ayton - Day-to-Day (Leg), Scoot Henderson - Day-to-Day (Concussion Protocol), Jerami Grant - Day-to-Day (Knee), Anfernee Simons - Day-to-Day (Arm), Sidy Cissoko - Day-to-Day (Ankle), Duop Reath - Day-to-Day (Knee), Toumani Camara - Day-to-Day (Ankle) For the Trail Blazers’ fans’ perspective, please visit Blazer’s’ Edge. PtR’s Game thread will be up this evening for those who want to chat through the game. You can also follow along with the action through PtR’s Twitter feed. ...read more read less