The San Antonio Spurs are proving they can thrive even without their brightest young stars, and De’Aaron Fox is leading the charge. Yankee Scores reports.
Fox Steps Up in Spurs Victory
Fox poured in 25 points to guide the Spurs past the Portland Trail Blazers, 112–101, on Wednesday night. Despite missing Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle due to injuries, San Antonio showed depth and resilience, with six players scoring in double figures.
Keldon Johnson added 20 points, while rookie Carter Bryant delivered a season‑high 17. The Spurs improved to 61–19, marking their best record since 2017 and continuing a remarkable 28–3 run since February 1.
Trail Blazers Struggle to Keep Pace
Portland’s Deni Avdija scored 27 points and Scoot Henderson chipped in 20, but the Blazers fell short, dropping their second straight after a brief winning streak. At 40–40, Portland sits ninth in the West, just 2.5 games ahead of Golden State as the regular season winds down.
Wembanyama’s Return Looms
Wembanyama, sidelined with a bruised rib, and Castle, out with knee soreness, are both hopeful to return Friday against Dallas. Coach Mitch Johnson emphasized their importance, noting Wembanyama still needs one more 20‑minute appearance to meet the league’s 65‑game minimum for award eligibility.
Fox’s early spark set the tone, scoring 10 points in the opening minutes to give San Antonio control. The Spurs closed the first quarter on an 8–0 run and later used a 13–2 spurt in the third to pull away.
What’s Next
The Trail Blazers host the Clippers on Friday, while the Spurs welcome the Mavericks in a matchup that could feature Wembanyama’s return.
With De’Aaron Fox stepping up and the Spurs proving their depth, San Antonio continues to look like a legitimate contender in the West — even when short‑handed.
