Following a game-tying slam from San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama to end the third quarter, the Spurs went on a 40-19 run to claim a 114-93 game four victory against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday at the Moda Center.
After a second-quarter concussion in game two of the series, Spurs center Victor Wembanyama returned in game four to dampen Portland’s Western Conference semifinals hopes. The unanimous Defensive Player of the Year blocked seven shots and swiped four steals to help hold the Trail Blazers below 95 points. Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox and forward Keldon Johnson sank back-to-back 3-point buckets in the fourth to put the Spurs up 90-77 with less than eight minutes to go. An “and-1” drive to the basket by guard Stephon Castle resulted in a technical foul awarded to both Castle and Portland forward Deni Avdija — a clear sign that the Frenchman and his knighthood were squandering the Trail Blazers’ hope for victory.
San Antonio’s 31-13 run in the third quarter shot the silver-and-black one point ahead of Portland with thirty seconds remaining in the quarter, but a shot-clock-beating three by Avdija put the Rip City up by two with 10 seconds remaining. After Spurs’ guard Dylan Harper’s scoreless drive to the basket, Wemby snatched the rebound and slammed the ball to start the fourth quarter on even playing field.
The Trail Blazers team, who restricted San Antonio to 18 points in the second quarter, was nowhere to be found in the fourth quarter. Within the first three minutes of the final quarter, Castle connected with Wembanyama for six points. Castle floated Wemby two alley-oops that sent a clear message to Avdija and the rest of Portland: Despite being in the Rip City, the court at the Moda Center belonged to San Antonio. Portland could not manage to get a stop in the fourth quarter; San Antonio shot 75% in the period.
Wemby collected 11 rebounds and swished 27 points — second in the competition only behind Fox’s 28. The Spurs guard cleared 16 points in the fourth quarter to give San Antonio the edge, and he ended the night with seven assists and six rebounds. Castle walked off the court with eight assists and 16 points. San Antonio outscored Portland 73-35 in the second half, forced 18 turnovers and shot 42% from the three-point line compared to Portland’s 42%.
The Spurs return home to San Antonio for game five at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Frost Bank Center; the game is being televised on ESPN.
