The San Antonio Spurs are now one win away from advancing, and they did it in emphatic fashion powered by the return of their franchise cornerstone.
The San Antonio Spurs stormed back from a massive first-half deficit to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 114-93 in Game 4 of their Western Conference first-round matchup, taking a commanding 3-1 series lead.
All eyes were on Victor Wembanyama, who returned after missing Game 3 while in concussion protocol and delivered a dominant two-way performance. The 7-foot-4 Defensive Player of the Year finished with 27 points, 11 rebounds, and seven blocks, anchoring a Spurs comeback that flipped the entire series dynamic.
Cleared to play just an hour before tipoff, Wembanyama wasted no time making his presence felt. His emphatic dunk midway through the first half drew audible gasps from the crowd at the Moda Center and signaled that the Spurs’ star was back and fully engaged.
Despite his performance, Wembanyama expressed frustration after the game regarding how his return was handled, calling it “very disappointing,” though he made clear the Spurs’ medical staff treated him well. He declined to elaborate further, avoiding any distractions as San Antonio pushes toward the next round.
The game didn’t start in San Antonio’s favor. The Portland Trail Blazers dominated the first half, going on an 18-3 run to build a 45-28 lead. Deni Avdija capped the surge with a fadeaway jumper, while contributions from Jerami Grant, Scoot Henderson, and Robert Williams III helped Portland take a 58-41 advantage into halftime.
But the Spurs responded with resilience. They erased the deficit in the third quarter, tying the game at 74 heading into the fourth and setting the stage for a decisive closing stretch.
De’Aaron Fox took over down the stretch, finishing with 28 points and igniting the decisive run. Back-to-back three-pointers from Fox and Keldon Johnson turned a tight game into a comfortable lead, pushing the Spurs ahead 90-77 with just over seven minutes remaining.
Johnson punctuated the victory with a powerful dunk that made it 101-81, effectively ending any hopes of a Portland comeback.
Meanwhile, rookie Stephon Castle fresh off a 33-point outing in Game 3 briefly exited after appearing to injure his left hand but returned to contribute. He was also involved in a late-game scuffle with Avdija, with both players receiving offsetting technical fouls.
Despite the loss, Avdija led Portland with 26 points, continuing his strong series. However, the Blazers couldn’t maintain their early momentum, struggling against San Antonio’s defensive adjustments and late-game execution.
The series now shifts back to San Antonio for Game 5, where the San Antonio Spurs will have a chance to close out the series on their home floor Tuesday night. With Wembanyama back in form and the team firing on both ends, the Spurs suddenly look like one of the most dangerous teams in the Western Conference.
For the Portland Trail Blazers, the path forward is clear: win or go home.
