Spurs End Nine-Year Drought with Playoff Victory Over Trail Blazers
Victor Wembanyama shone brightly as the San Antonio Spurs clinched their first playoff series win in nine years, dominating the Portland Trail Blazers 114-95 in Texas. This decisive victory marked a 4-1 series triumph for the Spurs, who showcased their prowess by leading by as many as 28 points. Wembanyama delivered a stellar performance, recording a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds, complemented by six blocks. De'Aaron Fox contributed significantly as well, scoring a game-high 21 points, while six Spurs players reached double figures. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson expressed satisfaction with the team's sharp performance, emphasizing their status as the Western Conference's second seed, now advancing to the semi-finals alongside the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. In a contrasting matchup in the Eastern Conference, Joel Embiid led the Philadelphia 76ers to a crucial 113-97 victory over the Boston Celtics, reducing their series deficit to 3-2. This win came as Embiid returned from an emergency appendectomy on April 9, scoring 33 points and adjusting strategies at halftime for the win. The 76ers aim to extend their series in game six on Thursday, while the winners will face either the New York Knicks or Atlanta Hawks. The Knicks currently lead their series 3-2 after a dominant 126-97 victory, with Jalen Brunson scoring 39 points and OG Anunoby adding 17 points and 10 rebounds. If the Hawks win at home on Thursday, the series will head back to New York for a decisive game on Saturday.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-04-29