Victor Wembanyama delivered a dominant performance, posting 17 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks as the San Antonio Spurs maintained a lead throughout the night and eliminated the Portland Trail Blazers with a 114-95 victory in Game Five of their first‑round playoff series. The win, which came on Tuesday evening, gave the Spurs a 3-2 series edge and sent them advancing to the Western Conference semifinals for the first time since their 2017 run.
The Spurs’ offensive output was bolstered by contributions from De'Aaron Fox, who added 21 points, and Julian Champagnie, who chipped in 19 points. Freshman guard Dylan Harper also scored 17, helping San Antonio build a lead that stretched as far as 28 points at one stage. The decisive margin reflected the Spurs’ third straight win in the series, a streak that finally allowed them to close out the series at home and avoid a return trip to Portland.
"We didn’t want to go back to Portland," Champagnie explained in the post‑game interview. "That was the main focus for the team. A four‑hour flight back isn’t appealing, and being up 3‑1 with a home game gave us a perfect chance to finish the series without traveling.
That motivation carried us through tonight." San Antonio’s victory marks its first appearance in the Western Conference semifinals since 2017, when the team defeated the Houston Rockets before losing Kawhi Leonard to an ankle injury and subsequently being swept by the Golden State Warriors in the conference finals. The Spurs will now await the winner of the Denver Nuggets‑Minnesota Timberwolves matchup, a series currently led by the Timberwolves 3-2, with Game Six slated for Thursday. Leonard’s injury and eventual trade sparked a rapid decline for the Spurs, creating the circumstances that led to the franchise selecting French seven‑foot‑four center Victor Wembanyama in the draft. The young star’s impact was evident in the final minutes of the game, when he swatted Deni Avdija’s floater off the backboard and out of the arena, effectively ending Portland’s late‑game surge.
Portland managed to narrow the gap to 91-82 with eight minutes left after an 11‑0 run, but the Spurs’ defense held firm. Avdija finished with a respectable 22 points, though he struggled from beyond the arc, converting only one of six three‑point attempts as the Trail Blazers shot a paltry 23 percent from long range. Trail Blazers rookie Scoot Henderson was limited to five points, a stark contrast to the ten points he scored in a previous skirmish with Harper during the third quarter of the Spurs’ 120-108 win in Game Three. The series has been marked by physical play and occasional altercations, underscoring the intensity between the second‑seeded Spurs and the seventh‑seeded Blazers.
Portland coach Tiago Splitter praised Wembanyama’s defensive versatility, noting, "It’s extremely difficult to game plan against him. He can contest a three‑point shot and protect the rim simultaneously, forcing teams to constantly adjust their offense. He will be a nightmare for opponents for years to come." Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson emphasized the importance of avoiding early double‑digit deficits, a problem that had plagued the team in Games Three and Four.
San Antonio responded in Game Five with a blistering 17-4 run to start the contest, sparked by two timely three‑pointers and eight points from Champagnie. "We’re not perfect, but that’s exactly the script we wrote before the game," Wembanyama said, reflecting the team’s disciplined approach.
The Spurs’ shooting was efficient, with Champagnie hitting five of seven three‑point attempts and the squad collectively converting 40 percent of its attempts from beyond the arc. This balanced offensive display, combined with Wembanyama’s rim protection, proved too much for a Portland side that struggled to find rhythm on offense.
Looking ahead, San Antonio prepares to face either the Denver Nuggets or the Minnesota Timberwolves, both of which have displayed high‑powered offenses throughout the playoffs. The Spurs’ ability to defend the paint, limit three‑point shooting, and execute in transition will be critical as they aim to replicate the deep run they enjoyed in 2017. For now, the victory over Portland not only ends a hard‑fought series but also reaffirms the franchise’s belief that the era of Wembanyama could usher in a new period of sustained success for the Spurs.