By: Jennifer Portee
4/29/2026
San Antonio made one thing clear Tuesday night they weren’t interested in dragging this series out any longer than necessary.
From the opening minutes, the Spurs played like a team with a flight they had no intention of catching. And by the final buzzer, they backed that mindset up with a convincing 114–95 win over Portland, closing the door on the first round without ever trailing.
Victor Wembanyama didn’t dominate in the loudest way, but he controlled everything that mattered. Seventeen points, fourteen rebounds, and six blocks only tell part of the story. His real impact showed up in the hesitation Portland players second-guessing drives, altering shots, or avoiding the paint altogether. When one player can affect both the rim and the perimeter, it changes how a team functions on offense. That’s exactly what Wembanyama did.
De’Aaron Fox scored 21 points, consistently breaking down the defense and keeping pressure on. Julian Champagnie found his rhythm early and never lost it, knocking down five threes on his way to 19 points. Dylan Harper added 17 more, continuing to look comfortable in big moments.
The Spurs had a 17–4 start, the kind of opening that says, “we’re ending this tonight.” After letting Portland hang around in previous games, San Antonio made the adjustment and never gave that space back.
Portland had one last push, trimming the deficit late in the fourth quarter, but it didn’t last. Wembanyama shut that door emphatically, blocking a shot so hard it ended up in the crowd.
The Trail Blazers had their moments throughout the matchup, but inconsistency caught up with them. Deni Avdija led the way with 22 points, yet struggled from beyond the arc like much of the team. As a group, Portland shot just 23% from three a tough number to overcome, especially against a defense that doesn’t give easy second chances. Scoot Henderson never quite found his footing either, in a series that leaned physical from start to finish.
This series definitely got physical. It wasn’t smooth or quiet there were heated moments, extra contact, and a lot of emotion on both sides. But when things got tight, San Antonio stayed composed and in control.
For the Spurs, this moment carries a little extra weight. It’s their first trip to the Western Conference semifinals since 2017 back before injuries and roster changes forced the franchise into a reset. That reset eventually brought Wembanyama to San Antonio, and now the payoff is starting to show.
Next, they’ll face either Denver or Minnesota. Whoever advances will be dealing with a Spurs team that looks organized, confident, and very aware of the opportunity in front of them.
San Antonio isn’t just building anymore.
They’re arriving.