Victor Wembanyama led the San Antonio Spurs to a dramatic 118-116 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night, scoring 28 points, including two game-sealing free throws with 2.1 seconds left.
Jerami Grant, who finished with 32 points, tied the game at 116 with a layup before committing the foul that sent Wembanyama to the line. Grant had been the catalyst for the Trail Blazers, scoring 22 of his points in the third quarter.
The Blazers held a commanding 17-point lead with 8:18 remaining in the fourth quarter but could not fend off San Antonio’s relentless comeback. A Jeremy Sochan free throw tied the game at 109, followed by Julian Champagnie’s clutch three-pointer with 2:08 left to give the Spurs their first lead of the final quarter.
The Spurs’ victory was even more impressive given their depleted roster. San Antonio was missing four players due to injuries, including key contributors Keldon Johnson and Tre Jones. They were further shorthanded after Chris Paul was ejected late in the first quarter for receiving two technical fouls.
Despite these challenges, the Spurs’ bench provided significant contributions. Devin Vassell poured in 23 points, shooting 9-of-16 from the field, while Blake Wesley added eight points and eight assists. Julian Champagnie chipped in 19 points, connecting on five of his ten three-point attempts.
Portland saw strong performances from its backcourt, with Anfernee Simons tallying 30 points and Deni Avdija contributing 19 off the bench. Donovan Clingan returned to action for the Trail Blazers after a seven-game absence, grabbing seven rebounds in 15 minutes of play.
The Spurs built an early advantage, leading 52-42 at halftime. However, Portland stormed back in the third quarter, outscoring San Antonio 46-28 to take an 88-80 lead entering the fourth.
San Antonio’s defense clamped down in the final period, holding Portland to just 11 points in the last eight minutes. Wembanyama also contributed on the defensive end with seven rebounds, two blocks, and a steal.
This win pushed the Spurs above .500 at 13-12, while the Trail Blazers fell to 8-17. Both teams will look to build on this contest as they head deeper into the season.
