San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama and guard Stephon Castle will not play Wednesday against the Portland Trail Blazers, the team announced. Wembanyama is dealing with a rib contusion while Castle is sidelined with right knee soreness.

The absences carry particular weight for Wembanyama, who needs at least 20 minutes in one more game to reach the NBA's required minimum of 65 games for individual award eligibility.

San Antonio has three games remaining, including Wednesday's contest. The Spurs face the Dallas Mavericks on Friday and Denver Nuggets on Sunday, and the team expressed optimism that both players could return for the Friday matchup. Both participated in shootaround Wednesday morning. The Spurs will be off nearly an entire week before the NBA playoffs begin on April 18th.

"I can't tell you too much of how [Wembanyama] looked, but he heals fast," veteran forward Harrison Barnes said.

Wembanyama sustained the rib injury during Monday's 115-102 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, playing just under 16 minutes before exiting. That appearance counted as an official game under NBA guidelines, which permit two exceptions for games played between 15 and 19 minutes and 59 seconds. He finished with 17 points, five rebounds and three blocks in that outing. Castle recorded a triple-double in the same game with 17 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds.

San Antonio sits at 60-19, having clinched the Southwest Division title and a top-two seed in the Western Conference. The Spurs trail the Oklahoma City Thunder by three games in the conference standings.