San Antonio, TX — Victor Wembanyama delivered 35 points in his first NBA postseason appearance on Sunday, guiding the San Antonio Spurs to a 111-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1 of their opening-round series.
The rookie’s scoring total surpassed Tim Duncan’s previous franchise record for a playoff debut and set an NBA mark for most points in a first postseason game by a player who hit at least five three-pointers. Wembanyama also anchored the defense, as Portland missed all 11 shots taken with him as the primary defender.
“The atmosphere was different; everybody was ready,” Wembanyama said after the win. “We had more time to prepare, and it showed.”
Blazers’ Defensive Plans Falter
Portland cycled through multiple coverages without slowing the 7’4” forward. Wembanyama went 4-for-6 when guarded by Donovan Clingan and 2-for-5 against Robert Williams. Versus double-teams, he finished 2-of-4 for six points.
The Spurs star credited the courtside presence of franchise icons Tim Duncan and David Robinson for added inspiration. “Seeing those two courtside and the recognition they get from the fans was amazing,” he said.
Vassell’s Spark and Drum Ceremony
After the game, Wembanyama selected Devin Vassell to lead the team’s postgame drum ritual. Vassell scored 15 points, including eight in the third quarter, and recorded two highlight blocks within 17 seconds—one on the 7’3” Clingan and a chase-down denial of Jrue Holiday. “Every possession matters,” Vassell noted. “Play to the whistle.”
Stingy Defense Continues
Sunday marked the 12th time this season San Antonio has held an opponent under 100 points, and the club remains unbeaten in those contests. Although Deni Avdija scored 30 for Portland, the Spurs limited his teammates and sent Avdija to the free-throw line only six times.
Kornet Minutes Prove Costly for Portland
Despite Wembanyama’s dominance, Portland was outscored by just four points while he was on the floor. The gap widened during Luke Kornet’s 14:17 of action, where the Blazers were minus-9. “We couldn’t make money out of those minutes,” head coach Tiago Splitter said. “Kornet did a good job defending and grabbing offensive rebounds. We’ve got to be better in those minutes, for sure.”
Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday night in San Antonio.
Source: Hoops Rumors
