De'Aaron Fox and Wembanyama lead San Antonio Spurs to the second round

The San Antonio Spurs celebrated a playoff qualification for the first time since 2017, and they did it with authority. The Texan team closed out their first-round series in the West with a 114-95 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, driven by a decisive De'Aaron Fox. Keep an eye on Victor Wembaynama and company. 

The guard scored 21 points, 13 of them in the last quarter, in a performance that sealed the series. Fox once again was the executioner in crucial moments, reaffirming his role as the offensive focal point in this team.

"It took time, but it feels good," explained Fox. "We felt like we put ourselves in position to win in all five games. There are moments when we go through rough patches or turn the ball over, that happens. I try not to fix everything by myself. For me, especially in the last quarter, it was important to keep moving. They defended me very physically throughout the series, but I had a good last quarter, and we tried to close out the game."

The game seemed controlled by San Antonio, which had a 21-point lead at the start of the last period. However, Portland reacted with an 11-0 run that cut the lead to nine. It was then that Fox returned to the court and scored the next nine points for his team, extinguishing any comeback attempt.

His impact was total: he scored or assisted in 42 team points, with his teammates converting 9 of 12 shots after his passes.

Julian Champagnie praised his performance bluntly: "De'Aaron is special. I've been in the league for a couple of years, faced him, and it's not fun to defend him. We want him to be that player for us, the one who closes out games. And he does it very well. It's his world, and we live in it."

Coach Mitch Johnson also emphasized his importance: "He was Clutch Player of the Year for a reason. He's in a different situation now, with a lot of ball in the last quarter. He's one of the best I've seen in deciding when to play off the ball and when to take control. And when he does, he doesn't hesitate. If we give him space and organization, we'll be even better. Today, he took control of the game clearly."

The Spurs' great start also had a lot to do with Champagnie, who made 5 of 7 shots in the first half, including 4 of 5 from three-point range, in a team that shot 67% from the field in those initial minutes.

Defensively, the dominance was also evident. Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle led a defensive effort that held Portland to 35.1% shooting and 23.4% from beyond the arc.

Impressive Performance by the Spurs

Castle praised the collective performance: "It was probably our most professional game of the series. We struck first in an important game when they were against the ropes. Seeing Fox play without forcing anything and then close out the game like that is a talent. Having that stability of a veteran point guard in tight finishes is very important."

Wembanyama continued to make a difference in the paint, altering numerous shots and stacking blocks throughout the series. The Frenchman reflected on the experience: "It's just an example of how a series can unfold, and it's a good way to start in the playoffs. We've gained experience, and I'm still hungry for even better challenges."

With the series settled, the Spurs now await their next opponent, which will come from the matchup between the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves, with the latter currently holding a provisional advantage.

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