Playoff debut! Yang Hansen plays in the final quarter, Wembanyama scores 35 points to set franchise record, Spurs beat Trail Blazers 1-0

On April 20, Beijing time, in the Western Conference first round of the NBA playoffs, the Spurs faced the Trail Blazers at home. In the first half, Wembanyama performed excellently, while the Trail Blazers relied on Avdija to hold on, allowing the Spurs to secure a double-digit lead. The third quarter was tightly contested, with the Spurs gradually expanding their advantage. In the final quarter, the Spurs pushed the lead to over 20 points, leaving the Trail Blazers unable to recover. Yang Hansen got playing time in the final moments of the quarter, marking his playoff debut. Wembanyama surpassed Duncan, setting the Spurs franchise record for highest points in a playoff debut. Ultimately, the game ended with the Spurs defeating the Trail Blazers 111-98, taking a 1-0 lead in the series.

Statistical Data:

Trail Blazers: Avdija 30 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists; Henderson 18 points; Holiday 9 points, 11 assists; Sharpe 10 points; Williams 11 points, 6 rebounds

Spurs: Wembanyama 35 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks; Vassell 15 points; Fox 17 points, 8 assists; Castle 17 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists; Kornet 10 points

Game Process:

The first quarter began with Castle scoring first, followed by Avdija hitting a three-pointer. The game was tightly contested, with the score tied at 9. Henderson also made a three-pointer, but then the Spurs launched a 9-0 run to establish a 6-point lead, countered by Williams' three-pointer. However, the Spurs' three-point shooting was also accurate, with Wembanyama and Fox connecting, allowing the Spurs to build a nearly 10-point lead. The Trail Blazers chased fiercely afterward, but Keldon hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer. At the end of the first quarter, the Spurs led the Trail Blazers 30-21 by 9 points.

In the second quarter, Henderson scored on a layup, and soon after, Wembanyama completed a two-handed dunk. The score alternated as both teams exchanged points, with the Spurs maintaining a lead of around 7 points. Midway through the quarter, Vassell hit a trailing three-pointer, finally extending the Spurs' lead to double digits. Avdija continued to fight alone, but the Spurs had multiple contributors; Kornet scored on a dunk, pushing the Spurs' lead to 16 points. Late in the quarter, the Trail Blazers found their rhythm with an 8-2 run, narrowing the gap back to 10 points. Both sides scored afterward, and at halftime, the Spurs led the Trail Blazers 59-49 by 10 points.

In the third quarter, the Trail Blazers opened with an 8-0 run, quickly reducing the deficit to 2 points. Castle stabilized the situation with a dunk, but Henderson immediately responded. However, the Spurs erupted again, launching an 11-2 surge to re-establish a double-digit lead. Avdija managed a difficult mid-range shot to stem the bleeding, but the Spurs' offense persisted, unleashing a 9-2 run to build a 17-point lead. Grant ended the quarter with a dunk to stop the bleeding. At the end of the third, the Spurs led the Trail Blazers 87-72 by 15 points.

In the final quarter, the Spurs started with 6 consecutive points, establishing a lead of over 20 points. Kamara hit an open three-pointer, but Wembanyama succeeded in a one-on-two play and completed a 2+1. Midway through the quarter, the Trail Blazers unleashed a 9-0 run, narrowing the gap to 12 points, forcing the Spurs to call a timeout. After the timeout, Wembanyama hit a three-pointer to halt the slide, then followed with a dunk to stabilize the situation. The Trail Blazers struggled to catch up afterward but could not recover. In the final 30 seconds, Yang Hansen entered the game but did not make a notable impact. Ultimately, the game ended with the Spurs defeating the Trail Blazers 111-98, securing a 1-0 lead in the series.

Starting Lineups:

Trail Blazers: Avdija, Kamara, Clingan, Henderson, Holiday

Spurs: Wembanyama, Vassell, Champagnie, Fox, Castle