For the first time in nine years, the San Antonio Spurs are heading to the Western Conference Semifinals; Yankee Scores reports.
San Antonio Spurs eliminated the Portland Trail Blazers 114-95 Tuesday night in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series.
Wembanyama’s Defensive Wall
The reigning defensive player of the year Victor Wembanyama scored 17 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks.
De’Aaron Fox scored 21 points, Julian Champagnie added 19 points and Dylan Harper had 17 as the Spurs led by as many as 28 points in winning their third straight game to advance to the second round.
Ending the Nine-Year Drought
San Antonio progresses to the Western Conference semifinals for the first time since 2017, when it beat the Houston Rockets before losing Kawhi Leonard to an ankle injury and then getting swept by Golden State in the conference finals.
The Spurs will face the winner of the series between the Denver Nuggets and Minesota Timberwolves. The Timberwolves lead that series 3-2, with Game 6 scheduled for Thursday.
See y’all in the Western Conference Semifinals 👏#PorVida pic.twitter.com/Z53UVT15BV
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 29, 2026
Blazers’ Performance
For Portland Trail Blazers, Avdija ended with 22 points. However, it was 1-for-6 from 3-point distance as the Trail Blazers shot 23% from long range.
Portland’s Scoot Henderson added five points. He was limited to 10 points after a skirmish with Harper in the final minute of the third quarter in San Antonio’s 120-108 win in Game 3 on Saturday.
A Physical Exit for Portland
It was one of several skirmishes during a physical and chippy series between the second-seeded Spurs and No. 7 Trail Blazers.
Coach Mitch Johnson said the Spurs could not afford another early double-digit deficit. This they had in the third and fourth games. San Antonio responded by charging to a 17-4 start, fueled by a pair of 3-pointers and eight points by Champagnie.
Champagnie finished 5-for-7 from distance and San Antonio shot 40% from 3-point distance.
