Wembanyama scores 35, most by Spur in playoff debut, in Game 1 win

SAN ANTONIO — Victor Wembanyama checked out with 52.8 seconds left in the sport, pumping his proper fist in acknowledgment of the fiesta-clad crowd at Frost Bank Center celebrating the San Antonio Spurs‘first playoff victory in seven years.

Wembanyama scored a game-high 35 factors Sunday to guide a 111-98 win over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1 of the first-round Western Conference playoff sequence. The Frenchman produced the highest-scoring output in franchise historical past for a Spur making his postseason debut, surpassing the earlier mark of 32 factors set by Hall of Famer Tim Duncan.

“I thought he was ready,” San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson mentioned. (*1*)

Wembanyama made that obvious with a dominating efficiency in opposition to an opponent that deployed quite a lot of ways and personnel groupings dedicated to stopping him. Over the course of 33 minutes, Wembanyama confronted eight completely different defenders, and the 22-year-old massive man poured buckets on every of them.

On the opposite finish of the ground, Wembanyama held Portland scoreless on 11 makes an attempt when he was the contesting defender.

“He probably settled in a little bit later when he made some shots and his talent popped,” Johnson mentioned. “But he really settled in there at a point when our defense kicked it into another gear. [Portland] did a good job of trying to create multiple actions and some confusion. [Wembanyama] did a good job of quarterbacking from the second line, getting guys organized.”

Wembanyama turned the primary participant in NBA historical past to attain 35 factors or extra in his postseason debut whereas connecting on a minimum of 5 3-pointers. Wembanyama shot 13-of-21 from the sphere and 5-of-6 from 3-point vary, in addition to tallying 5 rebounds and two blocks.

“The first time I stepped on the court, even for warmups, I felt the atmosphere was different,” Wembanyama mentioned. “Everybody was ready. The fans were ready. It’s probably the most excitement I’ve seen this year in this arena. In terms of tactics, the sport aspect of it, it was different because we had more time to prepare.”

Wembanyama outpaced a powerful postseason debut by Trail Blazers ahead Deni Avdijawho completed with a team-high 30 factors and have become the primary in franchise historical past to attain 30 with 10 rebounds and 5 assists in a playoff sport.

“Vic is Vic, and he had a tremendous game,” Spurs ahead Devin Vassell he mentioned.

Wembanyama knocked down 4-of-6 whereas saved by Donovan Clingan and hit 2-of-5 matched up in opposition to Robert Williams III. Wembanyama was 2-of-4 for six factors with one turnover on the six performs Portland double-teamed him.

He expects extra consideration and physicality from the Blazers in Game 2 on Tuesday.

“Of course,” Wembanyama mentioned. “It’s their identity. It’s something to be expected, and it’s also to be expected that they’ll double up on that in the next games. But we’re ready.”

Wembanyama began Sunday’s contest sinking 4 of his first six pictures and completed the primary half with 21 factors on 8-of-13 capturing from the ground and 3-of-4 from deep as San Antonio headed into intermission main 59-49.

Portland began the second half on an 8-0 run to tug inside two factors on a Scott Henderson 14-foot pull-up jumper — however that is as shut because the Blazers would get.

The Spurs improved to 11-0 at residence in the playoffs in opposition to Portland, the very best residence document by any NBA staff in opposition to any franchise.

“One down, one down,” ahead Keldon Johnson screamed from a jubilant residence locker room.

Wembanyama closed the sport with a 14-point fourth quarter as Spurs luminaries akin to Duncan and David Robinson appeared on. When the scoreboard flashed a shot of Duncan and Robinson seated facet by facet in the second half, the sellout crowd of 19,372 roared its loudest all evening outdoors of sport motion.

Wembanyama took discover.

“I heard the crowd when they went on the camera,” he mentioned. “Seeing those two courtside and the recognition they got from the fans was amazing. It’s so cool.”

ESPN Research contributed to this report.