The San Antonio Spurs have booked their spot in the Western Conference semi-finals after a convincing 114-95 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Victor Wembanyama stole the show with 17 points, 14 rebounds, and six blocks, as the Spurs never trailed throughout the game. De'Aaron Fox contributed 21 points, while Julian Champagnie and Dylan Harper added 19 and 17 points, respectively. The team's dominant performance was fueled by their determination to avoid a return trip to Portland, with Champagnie citing the four-hour flight as a key motivator.
The Spurs will now face the winner of the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves series. Wembanyama's stellar defense was praised by Portland coach Tiago Splitter, who acknowledged the challenges of facing the seven-foot-four center from France.
The Trail Blazers attempted to mount a comeback, cutting the deficit to 91-82 with eight minutes remaining, but the Spurs held firm, with Wembanyama making several crucial plays, including a memorable block on Deni Avdija's floater. The physical and chippy series between the two teams came to a close, with the Spurs emerging victorious and advancing to the next round for the first time since 2017.