San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama scored 14 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter of a win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday in San Antonio. Photo by Mohammed Badra/EPA
Victor Wembanyama totaled a San Antonio Spurs playoff debut record 35 points to spark a 111-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Spurs center logged 14 in the fourth quarter of the triumph Sunday in San Antonio. He made 13 of his 21 shot attempts, including a 5 of 6 clip from 3-point range. Wembanyama also recorded five rebounds, two blocks and an assist.
“We’ve been really good in the regular season, so we had no reason to act differently,” Wembanyama told reporters.
The Spurs outshot the Blazers 47.6% to 42.9%, including a 45.5% to 26.3% edge in 3-point shooting. They also hedl advantages of 48-42 in points in the paint and 20-11 in points off fast breaks. The Spurs led by as many as 21 in the series opener, which featured six lead changes.
Wembanyama, an MVP contender, is the first player in NBA history to log at least 35 points, while making at least five 3-point attempts in a postseason debut.
“There’s an approach that we all have in terms of expectation of a heightened level of preparation, detail, nuance, competitiveness, physicality, everything,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “There’s a real desire for that young man to participate in that.
“This was his first playoff game, and he has lofty expectations and goals for himself.”
The Spurs and Blazers exchanged the lead several times through the opening four minutes. Wembanyama’s Spurs then went on a 15-3 run, carried a 30-21 edge into the second quarter and never trailed again.
Wembanyama poured in a dozen points over the first dozen minutes. The Spurs outscored the visitors 29-28 in the second quarter and led 59-49 at the break.
The Blazers scored the first eight points of the second half to trim the deficit to two, but never got closer. They were outscored 52-49 over the final two quarters of the loss.
Spurs guards De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle scored 17 points apiece in the win. Forward Devin Vassell chipped in with 15 points. Blazers forward Deni Avdija totaled 30 points, including 19 in the first half. He also logged 10 rebounds and five assists.
The Spurs will host the Blazers in Game 2 at 8 p.m. EDT Tuesday in San Antonio. Game 3 of the best-of-seven game series will be Friday in Portland.
