The return of Victor Wembanyama couldn’t have had a more decisive impact. After missing Game 3 due to the NBA concussion protocolthe French phenom led the San Antonio Spurs to a memorable comeback, defeating the Portland Trail Blazers 114-93 and pushing the series to 3-1.
A win that brings San Antonio significantly closer to advancing, while leaving Portland on the brink.
Wembanyama dominates on both ends of the floor
If his offensive contribution was limited early, Wembanyama quickly imposed his presence on defense, completely shifting the momentum of the game. His final stat line speaks for itself: 27 points, 12 rebounds, 7 blocks, and 4 steals.
Numbers that confirm a historic performance. Since 1973-74, when blocks became an official stat, no player had ever recorded at least 25 points and 5 blocks in their first road playoff game.
It was special. I had a lot of emotions before the game: excitement, frustration. Tonight I let it all out
Victor Wembanyama
Devin Vassell also praised his teammate’s performance:
Vic is the best player in the world. Seeing him dominate on both ends isn’t surprising anymore. It’s what we expect from him every night
Devin Vassell
However, the impact of the French big man goes far beyond the box score. In the three games he has played in the series, Portland has scored just 10 points on 30 attempts directly contested by him, shooting a dismal 5-of-30.
A record comeback for the Spurs
The Spurs trailed by 17 at halftime and by as many as 19 during the game. Then came the turning point: a 13-0 run to open the third quarter immediately brought them back into contention.
A dunk by Devin Vassell cut the deficit to a single possession, before Wembanyama, once again, tied the game at 74-74 with a powerful dunk at the buzzer to end the third quarter.
From that moment on, the game went in only one direction.
The Spurs dominated the second half with an incredible 73-35 run, one of the most lopsided halves ever recorded in an NBA playoff game.
Wembanyama vs. NBA protocol
After missing Game 3, Victor Wembanyama didn’t hide his frustration with how his return was managed. The French star chose not to go into details, postponing further discussion until the end of the season, but made his disappointment clear.
I don’t want it to become a distraction. Ask me again at the end of the season, but the way the situation was handled was really disappointing
Victor Wembanyama
Wembanyama, meanwhile, is focused on what’s ahead:
We have to find answers before we put ourselves in tough situations. But it also shows the strength of our group: in adversity we stay together, we tighten up and feed off each other’s energy
Victor Wembanyama
On Tuesday, at the Frost Bank Center, San Antonio will have its first chance to close out the series and secure a spot in the second round.
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