04/20/26 12:02:00
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04/20 00:00 CDT Wembanyama scores 35 points in playoff debut as Spurs roll past
Trail Blazers 111-98
Wembanyama scores 35 points in playoff debut as Spurs roll past Trail Blazers
111-98
By RAUL DOMINGUEZ
Associated Press
SAN ANTONIO (AP) --- Victor Wembanyama scored 35 points in his playoff debut
and the San Antonio Spurs rolled to a 111-98 victory over the Portland Trail
Blazers in Game 1 of their first-round Western Conference series Sunday night.
Wembanyama's 21 first-half points set an NBA record for the most in the opening
half of an NBA playoff debut since the league's play-by-play era began in 1997.
His 35 total points set a Spurs franchise record for the most in a playoff
debut, surpassing Tim Duncan's 32 in 1998.
"It is obviously different, but we've been really good in the regular season,"
Wembanyama said. "So, we have no reason to act differently or do anything
different."
Game 2 is Tuesday night in San Antonio before the series heads to Portland for
Games 3 and 4.
Stephon Castle and De'Aaron Fox each added 17 points and combined for 15
assists for San Antonio.
Deni Avdija had 30 points and 10 rebounds to lead Portland, which beat Phoenix
114-110 in Tuesday's play-in game to earn the No. 7 seed.
Scoot Henderson, the No. 3 pick in the 2023 draft behind Wembanyama and
Charlotte's Brandon Miller, added 18 points.
The Spurs responded to the Trail Blazers' physicality while holding them to
10-for-38 shooting on 3-pointers and had a 45-38 rebounding advantage.
"The Spurs put you in tough positions," Portland coach Tiago Splitter said.
"Against them, you've got to shoot the ball well from 3s. We didn't. We've got
to shoot the ball better."
The Spurs and the sell-out crowd --- which included Duncan and former teammate
and fellow Hall of Famer David Robinson sitting together courtside --- at the
Frost Bank Center were primed for the franchise's first playoff game since
2019. The six-season postseason drought came immediately after San Antonio won
five NBA championships while appearing in a league-tying 22 straight
postseasons.
Spurs fans are again dreaming big --- and it's because of their 7-foot-4 post
player from France who is a finalist for the NBA's MVP and Defensive Player of
the Year awards.
Wembanyama's highlights included dribbling behind his back to avoid Avdija at
halfcourt, backing him down to the top of the key, spinning around him and
running free to the rim for a two-handed dunk midway through the first quarter.
San Antonio clamped down defensively to regain their double-digit lead in the
third quarter, with Devin Vassell blocking Donovan Clingan and Jrue Holiday
while scoring eight straight points.
"That's what we've talked about, just not giving up on the play," Vassell said.
"Every possession matters, whether it's the first possession in the first
quarter or the last possession in the fourth quarter. Play to the whistle."
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
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