Victor Wembanyama delivered a dominant performance, tallying 17 points, pulling down 14 rebounds and blocking six shots as the San Antonio Spurs maintained a lead throughout the game and eliminated the Portland Trail Blazers with a 114-95 victory on Tuesday night in Game Five of their opening‑round playoff series. De'Aaron Fox contributed 21 points for the Spurs, while Julian Champagnie added 19 and Dylan Harper chipped in 17.
San Antonio built a lead as large as 28 points, clinching their third consecutive win and moving on to the second round of the postseason. "We didn't want to go back to Portland," Champagnie explained after the game. "That was the main focus for our group.
A four‑hour flight back isn’t appealing, so being up 3-1 and playing at home gave us a perfect opportunity to close the series without another trip. That motivation was exactly what we needed tonight." The victory propels the Spurs into the Western Conference semifinals for the first time since 2017, when they defeated the Houston Rockets before losing Kawhi Leonard to an ankle injury and subsequently being swept by Golden State in the conference finals.
San Antonio’s next opponent will be the winner of the Denver‑Minnesota series. The Timberwolves currently lead that matchup 3-2, with Game Six slated for Thursday.
Leonard’s injury and the ensuing trade marked a steep decline for the Spurs, opening the door for the franchise to select Victor Wembanyama in the draft. The 7‑foot‑4 French center has been a game‑changing presence, and his defensive versatility proved decisive in sealing the series against Portland. "It’s extremely difficult," Portland head coach Tiago Splitter said of Wembanyama’s impact on the defensive end.
"You have to employ a lot of tricks, set back screens, seals, spins – it’s not easy because he can contest a three‑point shot and protect the rim at the same time. He’s going to create problems for teams for a long time." Portland briefly narrowed the gap to 91-82 with eight minutes left after an 11‑0 run, but the Spurs halted the surge. Wembanyya’s defensive presence was highlighted when he swatted Deni Avdija’s floater off the backboard and into the crowd in the closing minutes. Avdija finished with 22 points, though he struggled from beyond the arc, going 1‑for‑6 as the Trail Blazers shot just 23 percent from three‑point range.
Portland’s young guard Scoot Henderson managed only five points, capped at ten after a physical exchange with Harper in the final minute of the third quarter of the Spurs’ 120-108 win in Game Three on Saturday. That incident was one of several scuffles that have characterized this gritty, hard‑fought series between the second‑seeded Spurs and the seventh‑seeded Blazers. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson emphasized that the team could not afford another early double‑digit deficit like those they suffered in Games Three and Four.
San Antonio answered the challenge by launching a 17‑4 run to start the game, sparked by two three‑pointers and eight points from Champagnie. "It’s never perfect, of course, but that’s exactly what we said we wanted to do before the game," Wembanyama said in the post‑game interview.
Champagnie was efficient from deep, converting five of seven attempts, and the Spurs shot 40 percent from three‑point range overall, a key factor in their comfortable win. The series has been marked by physical play, strategic adjustments, and the emergence of Wembanyama as a two‑way star. His ability to protect the paint while also stretching defenses with his length forces opponents to rethink traditional offensive schemes.
Throughout the five games, he has averaged double‑digit points, double‑digit rebounds and multiple blocks, underscoring his status as a cornerstone for San Antonio’s future. Looking ahead, the Spurs will need to maintain their defensive intensity and continue to leverage their three‑point shooting as they prepare for a potential showdown with either the Denver Nuggets or the Minnesota Timberwolves. Both teams boast potent offenses, and the Spurs’ blend of veteran leadership, youthful energy, and Wembanyama’s unique skill set will be tested.
If the Spurs can replicate the disciplined execution displayed in Game Five—limiting turnovers, protecting the rim, and spacing the floor—they have a realistic chance to advance deeper into the playoffs than they have in nearly a decade. The franchise’s resurgence, sparked by the acquisition of Wembanyama and bolstered by contributions from players like Fox, Champagnie, and Harper, suggests a new chapter for San Antonio, one that could see them competing for a championship sooner rather than later. For fans eager to follow the action, NBA games are broadcast live on Sky Sports, with highlights and full‑game replays available through various streaming platforms.
The Spurs’ journey continues, and the basketball world will be watching to see how far this rejuvenated team can go.