The San Antonio Spurs detroned the Portland Trail Blazers 114-93 to earn a 3-1 lead in their first-round series on Sunday.
Victor Wembyanama tallied 27 points, 11 rebounds, and seven blocks in his return from a concussion for the Spurs. De’Aaron Fox added 28 points.
Meanwhile, the Spurs announced about an hour before the game that Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 Defensive Player of the Year, would play after clearing the league’s concussion protocol.
San Antonio started late to rally a 17-point edge at the half, but the game was knotted at 74 going into the fourth quarter.
Fox and Keldon Johnson hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Spurs up 90-77 with 7:14 left.
Johnson slams with 4;31 left to make it 101-81 for the Spurs and all but sealed the win.
On the other hand, Deni Avdija led the Trail Blazers with 26 points.
A heated moment between Avdija and Stephon Castle, with words exchanged and technical fouls issued.
Wembanyama drew gasps from the crowd at the Moda Center with an emphatic dunk with 9:58 to go in the first half.
The Blazers went ahead 45-28 in the first half on an 18-3 run. Robert Williams III dunked before a pair of quick 3-pointers from Jerami Grant and Scoot Henderson.
Portland led by as many as 19 in the half and was ahead 58-41 at the break.
However, the Spurs went on a 13-0 run to open the second half, closing the gap to 58-54 as the Blazers went cold.
San Antonio looks forward to ending the series at home on Tuesday night.
