Victor Wembanyama delivered a stellar performance with 17 points, 14 rebounds, and six blocks as the San Antonio Spurs eliminated the Portland Trail Blazers, securing their first playoff series victory since 2017. The Spurs dominated with a 114-95 win on Tuesday night, taking the series 4-1.
Spurs' Dominant Performance
De'Aaron Fox contributed 21 points, Julian Champagnie added 19, and Dylan Harper scored 17 for San Antonio, who built a lead as large as 28 points. The victory ensured the team avoided a return trip to Portland for Game 6.
"We didn't want to go back to Portland," Champagnie said. "That was the emphasis. It's a four-hour flight. Being up 3-1 and playing at home, it was a good chance to close it out. That was all the motivation we needed."
Wembanyama's Defensive Impact
Wembanyama, recently named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, was instrumental in the win. His defensive prowess drew praise from Portland coach Tiago Splitter.
"It's extremely difficult," Splitter said of Wembanyama's defense. "You have to use tricks, set backscreens, seals, and spin actions. It's not easy because he can contest the three-pointer and the rim simultaneously. He'll create problems for many teams for a long time."
Next Opponent
The Spurs will face the winner of the Denver Nuggets-Minnesota Timberwolves series. The Timberwolves lead 3-2, with Game 6 scheduled for Thursday.
Other Playoff Results
Philadelphia 76ers 113-97 Boston Celtics
Joel Embiid scored 33 points and added eight assists as Philadelphia avoided elimination, beating Boston in Game 5. Tyrese Maxey contributed 25 points and 10 rebounds. The 76ers trail 3-2 in the series. Boston's Jayson Tatum had 24 points and 16 rebounds, while Jaylen Brown scored 22. The Celtics shot 3-for-22 in the final quarter.
Atlanta Hawks 97-126 New York Knicks
Jalen Brunson scored 39 points to lead the Knicks to a 3-2 series lead over Atlanta. OG Anunoby added 17 points and 10 rebounds. New York dominated the boards 48-27. Jalen Johnson had 18 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists for the Hawks, while Dyson Daniels scored 17. Atlanta was limited to four fastbreak points.
