A huge Victor Wembanyama imposes Spurs' law against the Blazers

The San Antonio Spurs tasted victory in the playoffs seven years later, driven by a historic performance by Victor Wembanyama. The Texan team defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 111-98 in the first game of the series, with the Frenchman as the absolute protagonist.

Wembanyama scored 35 points in his postseason debut, the highest scoring for a Spurs player in their first playoff game, surpassing the previous record set by Tim Duncan. The center dominated the game on both ends of the court, confirming that he is ready to make the leap on the most demanding stage.

His coach, Mitch Johnson, did not hesitate to highlight his competitive maturity: “I thought he was ready. There's a way to focus all this in terms of preparation, detail, competitiveness, and physicality. There's a real desire in him to be part of it. It was his first playoff game, and he has very high expectations for himself.”

Wembanyama's impact was total. In 33 minutes, he scored 13 of his 21 field goal attempts and a spectacular 5 of 6 from beyond the arc, in addition to grabbing 5 rebounds and blocking 2 shots. Even on defense, he was decisive, shutting down Portland's scoring on 11 attempts when he was the primary defender.

The player himself explained how he experienced the game: “The first time I stepped on the court, even during warm-ups, I felt the atmosphere was different. Everyone was ready, the fans too. It was probably the most exciting atmosphere I’ve seen this year in this arena. As for the game, it was also different because we had more time to prepare.”

Not even Portland's constant defensive adjustments could stop him. Up to eight different defenders tried to guard him with no success. “He probably settled in more when he started hitting shots, and his talent emerged,” Johnson added. “But he found his rhythm when our defense stepped up. They tried to create confusion, and he did a great job organizing from the backline.”

The dominance of the Frenchman even overshadowed the great performance of Deni Avdija, who led the Trail Blazers with 30 points and put up a historic stat line for the franchise. Nevertheless, it was insufficient against the local whirlwind. “Vic is Vic, and he had a tremendous game,” summed up his teammate Devin Vassell.

San Antonio controlled the game from the first half, going into halftime with a lead thanks to Wembanyama's 21 points. Portland threatened a comeback at the start of the third quarter, coming within two points, but couldn’t sustain the pace. In the final period, the young center sealed the win with 14 points.

Electric Atmosphere in San Antonio

The atmosphere at the Frost Bank Center added to the occasion. Legends like David Robinson and Duncan himself were present, receiving cheers from the crowd. Wembanyama didn't overlook that moment: “I heard the crowd when they appeared on the screen. Seeing them courtside and the recognition they have is amazing. It's very special.”

The victory maintains the Spurs’ historic perfect record as hosts against Portland in the playoffs and allows them to take the lead in the series. But Wembanyama himself anticipates a tougher second game: “Of course. It's their identity. We expect more toughness and more defensive help. But we are ready.”

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Un enorme Victor Wembanyama impone la ley de los Spurs ante los Blazers