The Portland Trail Blazers will host the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night at Moda Center for Game 3 of their first-round playoff series. After stealing Game 2 in San Antonio, Portland enters this matchup tied 1-1 with a chance to take control of the series on its home floor. With Victor Wembanyama’s status still unclear, this sets up as a pivotal swing game between two teams trying to grab the upper hand.

This is the biggest game of Portland’s season to this point. After splitting the first two games in San Antonio, the Blazers now return home with momentum and a real chance to put pressure on the Spurs. A win would give Portland a 2-1 series lead and effectively put the Blazers in the driver’s seat with another home game coming Sunday.

The biggest storyline is Wembanyama’s status. He is questionable while in concussion protocol, and while he is traveling with San Antonio to Portland, that does not guarantee he will play in Game 3 or Game 4. His availability changes the entire feel of the matchup, because if he plays, San Antonio has a major advantage with the best defender in the league anchoring everything it does.

If Wembanyama is out, this becomes a much more even matchup, and the betting line reflects that. Portland already proved it can win in this series by stealing Game 2 on the road, and the crowd at Moda Center should provide a real boost as the series shifts to the Pacific Northwest. Still, the Blazers have to be ready for either version of the Spurs. Whether Wembanyama plays or not, Portland needs to carry over the energy from Game 2, execute in the half court and take advantage of the opportunity in front of it.

Following this contest, the Trail Blazers and Spurs will meet again on Sunday afternoon in Portland for Game 4. That matchup is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. PT and will either give the Blazers a chance to strengthen their series lead or respond before the series shifts again.