Blazers' Krejci Out With Left Ankle Fracture
Portland loses its wing depth for a stretch, and Saturday's home game against the Spurs is the next test of the new rotation.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Basketball
Trail Blazers fans lose Vit Krejci for a stretch after he fractured his left ankle late in Wednesday's 132-119 win over the Phoenix Suns. The injury came while he was trying to draw a charge on Miles Bridges, and it sidelined him for Friday's NBA Cup loss to the Lakers.
Why it matters
For a Portland roster already missing Ja Morant and Shaedon Sharpe, losing Krejci thins the wing depth that has been rotating in since his February trade from Atlanta. The question now is how long the bench shortens, and whether the minutes shift toward veterans like Damian Lillard, who logged 37 minutes Friday.
The NBA injury report lists Krejci's injury as a left ankle fracture, and coach Micah Nori confirmed it after the game. Krejci was averaging 7.2 points and about 19 minutes a night, and the team has not yet said how long he will be out.
The players
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland NBA team whose forward Vit Krejci suffered the ankle fracture.
Vit Krejci
Trail Blazers forward who was acquired from Atlanta in February and is out with a left ankle fracture.
Ja Morant
Trail Blazers guard sidelined with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, who posted encouragement to Krejci on Instagram.
Micah Nori
Trail Blazers head coach who disclosed Krejci's fracture after the Suns game.
Damian Lillard
Trail Blazers guard who played 37 minutes in Friday's loss to the Lakers.
The details
Krejci was hurt late in the third quarter of Portland's 132-119 win over Phoenix on Wednesday, Nov. 4, after going up to draw a charge on Miles Bridges. Coach Micah Nori disclosed the fracture after the game, and the NBA injury report listed it as a left ankle fracture. Portland then ruled out Krejci, Morant and Shaedon Sharpe for Friday's NBA Cup game against the Lakers, which the Blazers lost 124-118.
Timeline
Oct. 30: The Blazers announced Morant's Grade 2 left hamstring strain and a four-week re-evaluation.
Wednesday, Nov. 4: Krejci fractured his left ankle in the win over the Suns.
Friday, Nov. 6: Portland lost to the Lakers without Krejci.
Saturday, 7 p.m. PT: The Blazers host the San Antonio Spurs.
Beyond the Bridges
Krejci's arrival in February was one of the mid-season moves meant to add wing depth to a Blazers rotation that has been thinned by injuries this fall. His ankle fracture arrives just as the team tries to hold its footing without Morant and Sharpe, so the roster story of the season continues to be about patching gaps rather than settling a lineup.
If you have Blazers tickets, expect more minutes for the players still healthy and a thinner bench in the coming games. Portland's Saturday home game against the Spurs will show how the rotation adjusts with Krejci out.
The takeaway
Keep an eye on the Blazers' minutes distribution over the next few games, since it will show how the team absorbs Krejci's absence. Watch Saturday's home game against the Spurs for the first clear read on the new rotation.
What happens next
The Blazers host the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday at 7 p.m. PT, the next game where Portland's depth without Krejci will be tested.
Further reading
For the wider picture on the team's roster and season, see more Basketball coverage across Portland's sports pages.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Heavy.
